Space shuttle Endeavour lifts off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in this Nov. 14, 2008, file photo from Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)There always is a great deal of excitement when a space flight takes off - and there is usually anxiety, too. After all, we have seen some tragic events in our ventures into space.
But fortunately, after the space shuttle Endeavour blasted off at Cape Canaveral, Fla., Monday morning, many people were able to exhale sighs of relief that it went smoothly.
And there's an extra reason for rejoicing this time: The commander of this flight is Navy Capt. Mark Kelly - whose wife is Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz. She was present for the launch, even though she has been recovering from being shot during a public event in January.
After Giffords was almost assassinated, there was a question of whether her husband would be able to make the flight. But she recovered enough that he felt comfortable proceeding with the voyage, for which he had trained so long.
The main payload of Endeavour is a $2 billion particle detector searching for cosmic rays and seeking to unravel mysteries about our universe. The shuttle is also carrying 14,000 pounds of supplies for the space station, which is expected to operate at least until 2020.
This is Endeavour's 25th and final flight.
After all the concern about Giffords and the possibility that her husband might not have been able to make the flight, now there will be many prayers for the safe return of Kelly and all the other members of the Endeavour crew.