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SIERRA VISTA — A piece of Southern Arizona will head into space with Commander Mark Kelly when the Space Shuttle Discovery launches today from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, Kelly’s wife, family and friends, including some local officials, will all be there to wish him and the rest of NASA’s STS-124 mission well.
Though it will be the first time Gifford’s will see Kelly off into space when taking both their wedding rings along for the ride, she did watch his last mission as a pilot, STS-121 in 2006. Kelly was also a pilot for STS-108 in 2001.
“I’m excited for him,” Giffords said. “He’s always wanted to command. … This is a real dream for him.”
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This time Giffords is more excited than nervous.
“I know more than I did two years ago,” she said.
With a talented crew on board, beautiful weather and the Space Shuttle Discovery, all looks “go for launch.”
In addition to her wedding band, Kelly will be taking a cap from the USS Tucson submarine and a National Day of the Cowboy flag from Willcox on board for Giffords.
The flag has flown all around the world but never in space, Giffords said.
The 14-day STS-124 mission is the second of three flights that will launch components to complete the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Kibo laboratory at the International Space Station.
The crew of seven will be taking up the laboratory’s main segment and weighs 32,000 pounds.
“It’s the size of a school bus,” Giffords said.
The mission has taken on new urgency — the seven astronauts will take up a new pump for the space station’s malfunctioning toilet.
Giffords, along with other friends and family of Kelly and the other astronauts will watch the shuttle launch this afternoon.
Among many Arizonans attending will be Maj. Gen. John Custer of Fort Huachuca, Douglas Mayor-elect Michael Gomez, state Rep. Linda Lopez, state Rep. Steve Farley, Huachuca City Mayor George Nerhan and Tucson Vice Mayor Nina Trasoff.
Nerhan joked that he hasn’t gotten to see a space shuttle land at Fort Hauchuca yet, so he wanted to take the opportunity to see today’s launch from Kennedy Space Center.
“I wish our astronauts and crew out there the best of luck,” Nerhan said.
He and Custer said they were glad to be Giffords’ guests for the event.
“Attending the launch this weekend of Space Shuttle Discovery is a once in a lifetime opportunity — a moment in history. This is a great day for NASA, Arizona and our country,” Custer said in a statement.
HERALD/REVIEW reporter Laura Ory can be reached at 515-4683 or by e-mail at laura.ory@svherald.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
SVLib wrote on May 31, 2008 10:26 PM: