captain mark kelly at the helm. to the millions watching today, including our spouses, children, family and friends, we thank you for your support. reporter: from her wheelchair, his wife congresswoman gabby giffords joined the families of the other astronauts watching from the roof from building. we were standing there taking the moment in. at the end she said to me, good stuff. reporter: for mark, gabby wrote a note by hand which is hidden in the shuttle. back on earth after the launch mark s twin brother scott went to work. his job, special deliveries for mark. a red rose to each of his teenaged daughters and mark and gabby swapped their wedding rings. four months ago mark told diane it was one the first objects she reached for after the tragedy in tucson. she loves to play with my ring, so that s what i m going to be over there right now and i know that she ll be you know