Israel's first Astronaut -- Col. Ilan Ramon prepares to take off from Kennedy Space Center
15 January 2003
Photos:
http://www.idf.il/newsite/english/ilanramon.stm
The countdown has begun at the Kennedy Space Center for Israel's first astronaut, Col. Ilan Ramon, to launch into outer space this Thursday. Ramon was selected by NASA, the IDF and the Israel Space Agency to become Israel's first astronaut in 1997 when he was informally assigned to the STS-107 shuttle flight in 1999. Technical delays had the flight rescheduled to January 2003.
Col. Ramon has been trained as a Payload Specialist for this mission.
Col. Ramon was born June 20,1954 in Tel Aviv, Israel. He and his wife Rona have four children. He enjoys snow skiing, squash. His parents reside in Beer Sheva, Israel.
Ramon graduated from High School in 1972 and obtained a bachelor of science degree in electronics and computer engineering from the University of Tel Aviv, Israel, in 1987.
SPECIAL HONORS/AWARDS: Yom Kippur War (1973); Operation Peace for Galilee (1982); F-16 1,000 Flight Hours (1992).
EXPERIENCE: In 1974, Ramon graduated as a combat fighter pilot from the Israel Air Force (IAF) Flight School. From 1974-1976 he participated in A-4 Basic Training and Operations. 1976-1980 was spent in Mirage III-C training and operations. In 1980, as one of the IAF's establishment team of the first F-16 Squadron in Israel, he attended the F-16 Training Course at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. From 1981-1983, he served as the Deputy Squadron Commander B, F-16 Squadron. From 1983-1987, he attended the University of Tel Aviv. >From 1988-1990, he served as Deputy Squadron Commander A, F-4 Phantom Squadron. During 1990, he attended the Squadron Commanders Course. From 1990-1992, he served as Squadron Commander, F-16 Squadron. From 1992-1994, he was Head of the Aircraft Branch in the Operations Requirement Department. In 1994, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel and assigned as Head of the Department of Operational Requirement for Weapon Development and Acquisition. He stayed at this post until 1998.
Colonel Ramon has accumulated over 3,000 flight hours on the A-4, Mirage III-C, and F-4, and over 1,000 flight hours on the F-16.
NASA EXPERIENCE: In 1997, Colonel Ramon was selected as a Payload Specialist. He is designated to train as prime for a Space Shuttle mission with a payload that includes a multispectral camera for recording desert aerosol. In July 1998, he reported for training at the Johnson Space Center, Houston. He is currently assigned to STS-107 scheduled to launch in 2003. Ramon and his six U.S. crewmates will spend the entire 16-day flight working on scientific experiments, including an Israeli test to monitor desert dust in the atmosphere.
Israeli President Moshe Katsav sent a microfiche of the Bible the size of a credit card to Ramon to carry aboard on his journey, the Beit Hanassi spokesman said Tuesday.
Ramon said he will take Jewish symbols or ritual objects on board with him that correspond to the season or timing of his particular mission. "I'm going to carry special thingsÖ and try to express something about the unity of the Israeli people and the Jewish community. I have some ideas," Ramon said, "but, for the time being, I will keep them deep inside of me. It will be a surprise."