Additional tapes including, among other things, photographs documenting the experiments conducted by Ilan Ramon in space were published yesterday, the information found in the tapes and photographs does not add any information regarding the circumstances of the crash
The late Ilan Ramon on the space shuttle Columbia. In the row of opposites
The American space agency (NASA) announced that photographs from the experiment conducted by the late Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon were found in the cockpit of the shuttle "Columbia". These are video tapes and photographs found in relatively good condition, which allows viewing and analysis of the data on them.
In the videotape taken on the Columbia shuttle and released for publication yesterday by the American space agency, Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon is seen addressing his family members in Hebrew. "I love you, Rona, and the children. I miss you very, very much," Ramon said as he turned to the camera.
After an initial examination, it turned out that the photographs contain various sections that were taken during observations of the Israeli experiment to study desert dust conducted by Ramon and his teammates. The photographed material survived the fall of the smashed ferry from an altitude of about 60 km. The tapes were released for publication after the investigative committee examining the circumstances of the "Columbia" crash found that they were not relevant to the investigation. NASA allowed ten hours of recording and 92 photographs to be published. A total of 337 tapes were on the shuttle, but only 28 of them were found in usable or recoverable condition. The scientific sections contain night observations of the Earth's horizon and possibly additional observations.
Dr. Yoav Yair Mated, coordinator of the experimental project conducted by Ramon, said that it is not yet clear whether the filmed segments that were found coincide with what was transmitted from the shuttle to the ground or whether it is new data that was not previously available to the scientists.
Even if the data was transmitted, it will be used for calibration and comparison with the results that were transmitted to the ground during the "Columbia" flight. NASA announced yesterday that it will make a copy of the tapes and the filmed material and deliver it to scientists in Israel as soon as possible.
The experiment conducted by Ramon was carried out after four and a half years of meticulous preparations and planning. During the flight itself, all the space and air test systems worked flawlessly, with the exception of minor problems that the engineers took care of during the mission. The photo and recording systems also worked perfectly.
The Minister of Science and Technology, Eliezer (Mudi) Zandberg, said that finding the tapes is a link between the tragic end of space flight 107 and Israel's continued commitment to space exploration. "We are determined in our position to continue and strengthen Israel's position as a space power," Zandberg added.
Takes shape: the wing hit caused a disaster
After many experiments, the committee investigating the circumstances of the disaster said that the emerging opinion is that it was indeed a fragment of the insulation foam that fell during takeoff from the huge fuel tank, and damaged the cream thermal protection tiles of the left wing, that caused the terrible disaster.
85 thousand pieces were collected from vast areas in the USA, including the new video clips. The restoration work of the photo clips was done over several months carefully and meticulously.
The photos show the members of the shuttle crew - Rick Husband, Willie McCall, Kalpana Chawla, Ilan Ramon, Laurel Clark, Dave Brown and Michael Anderson - waking up to another day of work to the background of the song "Love of My Life", chosen by Rona, Ilan Ramon's wife Z "To.
Ramon himself is seen peeking out of his bedroom closet with a smile, telling his wife Rona and the children in English and Hebrew that he loves them and misses them very much. Willie McCall is seen playing volleyball with a pad of paper. Another astronaut is seen shaving and others performing routine checks.
The new film also shows photographs of the Middle East region through the window of the ferry. The State of Israel is clearly visible in the center.
