Representatives of the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are in Israel for a six-day visit this week in honor of fallen Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon. On Thursday, the delegation will take part in a memorial service organized by the Ramon family. 
The official visit marks five years since the death of Ramon and six fellow astronauts aboard the space shuttle Columbia.
The official visit marks five years since the death of Ramon and six fellow astronauts aboard the space shuttle Columbia. The spacecraft was damaged and burned up on re-entry into the atmosphere over Texas on February 1, 2003. All members of the crew were killed in the accident.
Colonel Ramon, a highly experienced IDF fighter pilot, was selected from among the air force's top soldiers to take part in the NASA shuttle mission. He was trained in the US for the flight and was designated a payload specialist.
In addition to Ilan Ramon's widow Rona, the NASA delegation included Lani and Cameron McCool, widow and son of William McCool, Jonathan Clark, widower of Laurel Clark, NASA astronauts Mike Lopez Alegria and Sunita William, NASA scientist Nagin Cox, and Gerhardt Thieli, a German astronaut and friend of Ilan Ramon.
During their visit to Israel, hosted by the Ministry of Science, Culture and Sport, the NASA delegation is participating in the Third International Space Congress in Herzliya. They will also attend Israeli high schools, research universities and leading scientific institutions. Among other cities, the NASA representatives will be going to the ORT school in Kiryat Yam, which has been officially designated as a “Science City.” NASA astronaut Alegria is scheduled to speak to ORT students about current space research.
The NASA visit was the initiative of World ORT, as part of its Forward Science project, and was arranged with the help of Rona Ramon and the Israeli government.
Israel is Ready to Send Another Astronaut
The guests from NASA took part in a special session of the Knesset Science and Technology Committee on Tuesday. Committee chairman MK Benny Elon (National Union) told the delegates that Israel is ready to send another astronaut into space.
Knesset Speaker MK Dalia Itzik met with the visiting group on Monday. Addressing the NASA representatives and the families of the fallen, Itzik said:
“I thank you all for your and your family's contribution to science, to humanity, to progress, and to the world. I am deeply sorry and pained for the tragedy that befell you and all of us due to the Columbia space shuttle tragedy. While our loss is still felt, the spirit of the Columbia Seven fuels our spirit of exploration. All of you here, representing different backgrounds and different countries, represent our future, and our ability to together reach new frontiers and the next frontier."
The NASA representatives are also scheduled to meet with President Shimon Peres and Defense Minister Ehud Barak.