Shuttle Commander Mark Kelly 's wife , U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords , flew to the Kennedy Space Center ( KSC ) in Florida to view the first launch attempt , her first trip since moving from Tucson to Houston for rehabilitation after being seriously wounded in the January 2011 Tucson shooting . On 16 May , Giffords was again at KSC for the launch , which was " one of the most anticipated in years , " according to '' The New York Times ''
January 2011 Tucson shooting
2011 Tucson shooting
STS-134