Endeavour lifts off for final mission

The Space Shuttle Endeavour achieved liftoff Monday morning from Cape Canaveral, Fla., for its final mission in space.

The shuttle is commanded by Mark Kelly, the husband of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D), the Arizona lawmaker who was seriously injured when she was shot in the head during an assassination attempt in January.

The shuttle blasted off just before 9 a.m. EST after having suffered delays to its scheduled mission earlier this month. Giffords, who has been undergoing rehabilitation treatment, was in attendance.

The mission is the final flight for the Endeavour. The shuttle will spend its retirement at the California Space Center.

The final shuttle mission is scheduled in late June.

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