Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was back in Cape Canaveral today for for the rescheduled launch of the shuttle Endeavour. Giffords, who was sitting in a wheel chair, watched the launch in private with her mother, her husband Mark Kelly’s twin Scott Kelly, and other family members. Her chief of staff, Pia Carusone, told CBS News:
“Usually he takes her wedding ring to space. So he took it from her a couple of days ago. But she wanted his. So, yesterday … he gave her his ring. But his hands are a bit bigger than hers. So it didn’t fit on her finger. So, he gave it to me to find a chain to give to her. So, I did last night.”
After the launch, which Giffords described as “good stuff,” she traveled back to the Houston rehabilitation center where she’s staying. During the 16-day mission, Giffords and Kelly will be able to communicate via video conferencing.