Remembering Ilan Ramon, Israeli Astronaut & Hero

February 4, 2008 at 12:51 pm | In Face to Face, Sciences |

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We can’t believe it has been 5 years since that awful day when Israel’s first astronaut along with the entire Columbia space shuttle crew were lost. Let us not forget those great individuals.

From Ynet:

Science fair marks 5th year of Ilan Ramon’s death

Family, friends of Israeli astronaut gather at World ORT Education Society’s Kiryat Yam science fair to mark the fifth anniversary of Space Shuttle Columbia disaster

Ahiya Raved

“Ilan Ramon was an important man, not only in the history of Israel, but for the entire Space Program… I’m proud to continue Ilan Ramon’s work, his study and legacy,” said astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria, who is visiting a space and science fair in Kiryat Yam, marking the fifth anniversary of Israel’s first astronaut’s death.

The event, sponsored by the World ORT Education Society, was held in commemoration of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. Lopez later added that holding the fair in Israel had special meaning.

Ramon’s wife, Ronna, attended the fair and told the students that both she and her husband have always thought that science education should take priority. “You are the ones who will be there in the future,” she said.

Brigadier-General (Ret.) Yisrael Shafir, former commander of the Tel Nof Air force base and a close friend of Ramon’s said he was “the kind of Israeli we’d all like to be – humble, considerate, determined and loving… it’s such shame that people are getting to know him only now. It is indeed very fitting that he is remembered by all as a person who not only touched the heavens, but every Israeli and Jew.”

Lieutenant-Colonel (Ret.) Dov Ofer, another one of Ramon’s closest friends, recounted the Columbia’s launch in 2003: “It was a very exciting event… I couldn’t be there in time for the landing and witnessed those painful final moments along with the entire world, realizing Ilan will never come back.

“We lost a beloved, professional, dear man, who is greatly missed by all of us,” he added.

1 Comment »

  1. The event was the initiative of World ORT, the world’s largest Jewish education and vocational training non-government organisation. World ORT has some 250,000 students and beneficiaries every year - Jewish and non-Jewish - in every continent.
    In Israel, World ORT is investing millions of dollars in Kadima Mada, a programme designed to raise the standard of science and technology education in the Jewish State. In just one year, World ORT has installed state-of-the-art “intelligent” laboratories in schools in more than 30 municipalities. It has also installed high-tech staff rooms in these schools to ensure that teachers have all the necessary tools at their fingertips to prepare good quality lessons. And that’s just a fraction of what World ORT is doing for Israel right now. For more details, go to http://www.ort.org.

    Comment by Stefan — February 5, 2008

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