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Relics from Ilan Ramon’s Space Shuttle to be Displayed in Israel for First Time

by ISRAEL21c |

Israel’s annual Space Week is underway, and science enthusiasts are looking forward to inspecting relics of the Columbia space shuttle, which were brought from the U.S. for temporary display in Israel for the first time.

NASA loaned the Israel Air Force Center in Herzliya artifacts used by Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon on the spacecraft, including a camera Ramon used in space, his control system, a recording drive, and electronic equipment.

Ramon, who perished alongside the six other astronauts on board the Columbia when it burned up on reentry into the atmosphere on February 1, 2003, was also carrying out a Tel Aviv University-designed Mediterranean Israeli Dust Experiment (MEIDEX) while in space. NASA sent remains of that experiment to Israel as well.

“This is the closing of a circle for me and for all those who work in the field of science and space exploration in Israel,” Ramon’s widow, Rona, told Channel 2 News.

Rona asked NASA chief Charles Bolden if the items could be brought to Israel for Space Week. “I’m moved that the head of NASA remembered my request and that he answered affirmatively that we could bring parts of the shuttle to Israel to enable our young people to get inspiration from the stories of Ilan,” she said. “We hope that the next generation will take heart and inspiration from the story of Ilan and the shuttle.”

The special exhibit is just one of the space-related events taking place this week.

NASA astronauts Garrett Reisman, Shannon Walker, and Joseph Acaba, as well as Italian-born Samantha Cristoforetti from the European Space Agency and South Korea’s Soyeon Yi, are in the country to take part in space-oriented lectures and discussions.

Israel Space Week, which promotes science and scientific education in Israel, is hosted by the Ramon Foundation, the Israel Space Agency, and the Israeli Ministry of Science. “The goal is to get as many young people as possible exposed to space research and develop their sense of curiosity in the sciences,” said Science, Technology and Space Minister Ofir Akunis.

(via Israel21c)

[Photo: NOVA-Learning / YouTube ]

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