(NECN: Alysha Palumbo, Hanover, MA) - With a mix of nerves and excitement, the family of astronaut Steve Bowen huddled around the television in his sister's Hanover, Massachusetts home Thursday afternoon, watching intently as Space Shuttle Discovery lifted off for the last time.
It's the Cohasset native's third trip into space and his family couldn't be prouder.
Bowen's niece Gabe Atturio said, "I'm really excited for him and I know it's really scary for my mom, she's been running around all day cleaning because she's nervous."
"I have a nine-year-old son and he is just beside himself, we've got space shuttles hanging in the room and he's so proud, we've very proud," said Bowen's sister-in-law Nancy Bowen.
The 47-year-old father of three was a submarine officer before he joined NASA, taking his first trip to the International Space Station back in 2008.
His family says Bowen made a seamless transition from working undersea to walking in space.
Steven's brother-in-law John Atturio said, "His answer was, well I was under the Arctic Ocean for three months, so I think I can go to space for a couple of weeks."
Local
After flying with Atlantis last May, Bowen was added to the Discovery mission just last month because another astronaut broke his hip… making him the first astronaut to fly on consecutive missions.
Bowen's sister Nancy Atturio said, "Ironically Steven was working as the escort for Eric Bow, the pilot, when this was supposed to go off in November, so this is kind of ironic that now he ends up on the launch."
The eleven day mission that will bring supplies and a humanoid robot to the space station is Discovery's 39th and final mission, as NASA officially retires its shuttle fleet this summer.
Bowen's sister-in-law Trish Bowen said, "It's still pretty cool, the coolness never goes away but this time there's a little bit of a bittersweet because the program is ending."
Click here to watch shuttle Discovery blast off.
