Ilan+Ramon+-+Shira+B.+&+Tamar

I.D.
Full name: Ilan ramon Parents name: Sanya and Eliezer Year of birth: 1954 Where born: Ramat Gan Year of death: 2003 Where died: space, the Colombia disater Profession: Astronaut What he is famous for: the first Israeli astronaut

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The first Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon was born on July 20th, 1954 in Ramat Gan. He graduated from high school in 1972. In 1974, Ramon graduated as a fighter pilot from the Israeli Air Force. While he served in the army, he flew over 4,000 flights and took part in the Yom Kippur War and Operation Peace for Galilee. He was also one of the pilots involved in the raid on the Iraqi nuclear reactor in 1981. In 1997, Colonel Ramon was selected by NASA to serve as a Payload Specialist on the Space Shuttle Columbia. On January 16, 2003, 10:39 am, the seven member came aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. During their 16-day mission Ramon had a number of experiments to do. "Being the first Israeli astronaut, I feel I am representing all Jews and all Israelis," Ramon said. Although Ramon was a secular Jew, special kosher meals were made for him. He also carried several personal objects with him to space: photos and letters from his family, a poem his wife gave him, the bible and a pencil drawing by a 14-year-old Jewish boy who was killed in Auschwitz. Tragically, just minutes before landing on February 1, the Columbia exploded. Ramon and the six American astronauts aboard with him were killed. "Ilan believed he was an emissary of humanity for scientific experiments. Ilan was responsible for forty scientific experiments which would improve the quality of life for the human race, and this turned him into an international citizen and a beloved person." said the President Katsav. Ramon's journey into space occurred as Israelis continued to suffer through a horrendous period of violence and helped lift the nation's spirits. Ramon was a national hero and a symbol of hope.

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= = Dear citizens of Israel! I’m speaking to you now while I am in space. I can see our beautiful country from up here. Yesterday, I saw Jerusalem. It was unbelievable! I was very excited and I started to say "shema isreal". I am really surprised that I got so far. It's funny because I always wanted to be a basketball player not an astronaut. When I was chosen to be the first Israeli astronaut, I felt very honored as a Jewish and Israeli person, because there aren’t many people who have been to space. I represent all of the Jews in the world. I wish my family were here with me. If they were, I would stay up here my whole life. I have the possibility to keep in touch with my family. I can send them emails and even call them on a special phone which we have in our space shuttle. I also brought their pictures with me to space. But not only their pictures, all kind of items that are important to me: a small Sefer Torah from a special person I met who survived the holocaust, a child's drawing from the holocaust, a Kiddush cup and six flags. I’m coming back in a few days and I’m very exited about returning to earth. I miss Israel very much. I want to say thank you to all of the wonderful people who helped me and supported me to reach this point. I hope I did not disappoint you as a nation and I wish Israel will know better days.

=The Crew=



We also thought it's very important to mention all of the crew who were with Ilan Ramon when the space shuttle Colombia was explode.

Rick Husband's childhood dream was to become an astronaut.
 * Rick D. Husband, Commander**

Willie McCool loved to see "the eyes light up when you talk to kids" about space.
 * William C. McCool, Pilot**

"Very early on," Michael Anderson "thought being an astronaut would be a fantastic thing to do."
 * Michael P. Anderson, Payload Commander**

As a kid, David Brown thought of astronauts as "movie stars."
 * David M. Brown, Mission Specialist 1**

Kalpana Chawla's path to become an astronaut began in Karnal, India. Laurel Clark felt "incredibly lucky" to see Earth from the unique vantage point of space.
 * Kalpana Chawla, Mission Specialist 2**
 * Laurel Blair Salton Clark, Mission Specialist 4**

=**Interview**=

Good, thank you! I was a Colonel and fighter pilot in the Israeli Air Force, and I had thousands of hours flying experience. I fought in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. In 1981, I took a part in the bombing of Iraq's unfinished nuclear reactor. Actually, since I was a kid I wanted to be a basketball player. I guess things changed. I felt that I'm on some kind of a mission, which I'm doing for humanity. There is a small number of people which were in space and it's an honor for me as an Israeli. All of the astronauts who are sent to space are much protected. I had a special protection because I was an Israeli. Around the hotel we stayed in was a security fence, and bodyguards followed us everywhere. Yes. I asked NASA for kosher food. The food was not so bad... NASA also rejected the flight because it was due to take off on tisha be'av. When I saw Jerusalem and our beautiful small country I was very excited and I started to say "shema isreal". I enjoyed it very much. If I had a possibility I'd probably stay in space all my life. That is, of course, except for the reason that I want to be with my family. I took with me things that are important to me. I took a small torah scroll from a special person I met who survived the holocaust, a kid's drawing from the holocaust, A Kiddush cup, and six flags: the flag of Israel's president, Ramat Gan, be'er sheva "blich" high school, Israel's space agency, Israel's air force and the air force museum. I also took my kid's watches. Yes. I'm the first Israeli astronaut and I represent all of the parts of our population. My father was encouraging me the whole time and he knew I had a dream come true. I had the possibility to keep in touch with them. I send them Email and I also called them on the phone. I received an email from my wife with a song called “Zemer Nuge” – “A Sad Song”. It was meant to show how much we missed each other.
 * Hello Ilan Ramon. How are you?**
 * What did you do in the army?**
 * Did you always wanted to be an astronaut?**
 * How did** **you feel when you where chosen to be the first Israeli astronaut?**
 * Was your crew safely protected?**
 * Did you do anything to show that you are Jewish?**
 * How did you feel when you were in space?**
 * What did you take with you to space?**
 * Did you feel some kind of responsibility towards the state of Israel?**
 * Were you supported by your father?**
 * Did you talk to your family while you were in space?**