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| Gabrielle Giffords |
As Kelly and five other Space Shuttle Endeavor astronauts began their 16-day mission to the International Space Station – Endeavor's 25th and final mission – Rep. Giffords, in a wheelchair, said, "Good stuff. Good stuff," according to the Arizona Congresswoman's aides, as quoted by National Public Radio.
"It was a very emotional moment and very inspirational," said Giffords's press officer Mark Kimble. "It reminds all of us why we are so devoted to her."
Also in attendance at the 8:56 a.m. Monday launch were Giffords's mother, Mark Kelly's twin brother (fellow astronaut Scott Kelly), Mark Kelly's children, a nurse and the spouses of crew members.
Reports say the Giffords spent some private time together in a beach house within the Kennedy Space Center compound on Sunday afternoon. Per family tradition, the two swapped wedding rings, a custom they do for all of Kelly's missions. Until his return Giffords will wear her husband's ring on a chain around her neck.
Giffords was brought to the Kennedy Space Station from the Houston rehabilitation facility where she is being treated for a severe head wound she sustained Jan. 8 when a gunman in Tucson attacked an event she was attending.
In all, six people were killed in the attack and, in addition to Giffords, 12 others were wounded.
