Fourteen astronaut
Ilan Ramon leaders of world's top space agencies to mark 10th anniversary of
Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, death of first Israeli
A record number of 14 leaders of the
world's most important space agencies will arrive in Israel this month to mark the 10th
anniversary of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster and the death of the first
Israeli astronaut, Ilan Ramon.
The officials confirmed their
participation in the Seventh annual international Ilan Ramon Space Conference,
initiated by the Israel Space Agency at the Science and Technology Ministry and
the Fisher Institute for Air and Space Strategic Studies, which will be held in
Herzliya on January 29-30.
The conference will also be attended
by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, who knew Ramon and has been in touch with
his widow, Rona, since the disaster.
"Ilan Ramon was a hero. We all
cried when we found out about the disaster which killed his son, Asaf," Bolden said in an
interview to YediothAhronoth in 2010.
"This year's conference has
reached a very distinguished international level," says Rona Ramon.
"It's gratifying seeing all the commemoration activities after 10
years."
According to Prof. Isaac Ben-Israel,
chairman of the Israel Space Agency, "Our success in bringing 14 leaders
of the world's top space agencies demonstrates the recognition in Israel's
growing presence in the space field."
