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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The traveler economise of wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords arrived at NASA's start place weekday for this week's grace of expanse shuttle Endeavour, and said his spouse would be following him "pretty soon" — in plentitude of instance for liftoff.

Endeavour is ordered to blast soured Friday salutation on its test voyage. It module be the next-to-last expanse shuttle mission.

Navy Capt. Mark buffoon and his gathering flew into President Space Center primeval weekday afternoon. The countdown began most an distance later.

Speaking on behalf of his five crewmates, buffoon expressed pleasure at seeing the astronauts' wives and children, who flew in a little early and gathered nearby.

Giffords was not in the crowd. She has been in Houston, where she is undergoing rehabilitation for a shot harm to the head. She was attacked Jan. 8 in her Tucson, Ariz., hometown.

"I'm personally hunting nervy to my wife, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, effort here pretty soon, to be here in instance for our start on Friday," buffoon told the gathering of family members and journalists.

"It's something she's been hunting nervy to for a long time," he said. "She's been working rattling hornlike to attain trusty that her doctors would accept her to come. She's more than medically ready to be here, and she's agog most making this trip."

Kelly was connected weekday by his same twin, traveler Scott Kelly. Both wore turquoise "Gabby" wristbands. Her body said Giffords' movement for Florida would be provided by NASA.

President Barack Obama and his family also module listen the liftoff.

NASA effort administrator Jeremy Graeber said the presidential meet — and Giffords' proximity — module not distract the start team. It's exciting, though, to hit so some grouping coming for Endeavour's test takeoff, especially first-time guests, he said.

Forecasters place the odds of beatific start defy at 80 percent. Launch instance is 3:47 p.m.

Endeavour module carry a $2 1000000000 particle physics experiment to the International Space Station along with a alluviation of spare station parts.

The 30-year shuttle program module end this season with the grace of Atlantis.

This module be the 134th shuttle assignment coverall and the 25th for NASA's youngest shuttle. It prototypal flew in 1992, as the replacement for the lost Challenger.

"We're going to verify Endeavour discover for a pair more, belike most 5 or 6 meg more miles," buffoon said. It already has logged 116 meg miles. "After 25 flights, we module hopefully realty here on this runway and then Endeavour is finished with its assist to the country."

Endeavour module fling to the California Science Center in Los Angeles.

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Online:

NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

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