Astronauts back for next-to-last shuttle flight

May 12, 2011 By MARCIA DUNN , AP Aerospace Writer

Astronauts back for next-to-last shuttle flight (AP) — A photo provided by NASA shows the Endeavour at NASA Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A, in Cape Canaveral, Fla., May 4, 2011. NASA will try Monday, May 16. 2011 to launch Endeavour on the penultimate space shuttle flight, after replacing a switch box and plugging in new electrical wiring.

(AP) -- The astronauts for NASA's next-to-last space shuttle flight are back in Florida for another try at launching into orbit.

The six crewmen - led by the husband of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords - arrived at Kennedy Space Center on Thursday morning.

Shuttle Endeavour is due to blast off Monday morning. The first launch attempt on April 29 was halted by electrical trouble. A switch box was replaced, and new wiring installed.

Commander Mark Kelly's wife was critically wounded in the head four months ago. The Arizona congresswoman recovered well enough to travel for her husband's first launch effort. She will return to Kennedy later this week.

Astronaut Gregory Chamitoff commended Kelly for giving the mission his all, and called him "truly an amazing commander."

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