Today an astronaut is pondering if he should lead the last space shuttle mission, or stay grounded and care for his wounded wife.

Mark E. Kelly is supposed to be the commander on the space shuttle Endeavor for a 14-day mission in April. The NASA site details Kelly’s upcoming adventure.

But his wife, Gabrielle Giffords, is at the beginning of an agonizing journey through rehabilitation after being shot in the head.

Will Kelly go on his family’s mission, or will he set off for outer space? While few of us will have such a public decision to make, many of us will face this situation — career or family, family or career? Do we risk hurting our careers, as Kelly would, and stay on earth to tend to his wife? This may be his last chance to head off on a space mission. Or do we hope family will understand, survive, and go off on our career path? (more…)