Coincidentally, yesterday (Tuesday) a ceremony was held in Netavgy to name the control tower in the name of Ilan Ramon
NASA reports that the space shuttle Discovery is "buttoned up" and ready for takeoff as the clock ticks down. Officials say they have "not identified any critical issues" as engineers continue preparations for launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. However they monitor the weather, a tropical depression in the south could become a hurricane, meteorologists say.
It will be the most monitored shuttle launch in history. Cameras and radar devices will look for debris of any kind that could damage the spacecraft during takeoff.
"All the systems on the Discovery are buttoned up and ready to go," says Scott Higginbotham, the cargo manager on STS-114, but the only thing that could be a problem is the unstable weather in Florida. "Weather is always a big variable that we always have to deal with," said Flight Director Stephanie Stilton.
The launch window opens tomorrow at 22:45 for about 12 minutes. The planned launch time is exactly in the middle of this window - 22:51 Israel time. The mission will last 12 days and the landing is planned for July 25 at 18:00 Israel time at the Kennedy Space Center.
A few days before launch, a fault was discovered in the space shuttle 'Discovery' shell. One of the over 20 tiles that should protect the shuttle from the hot atmosphere has broken off. The fault has been fixed and the ferry will be launched today as planned, if there are no unexpected last-minute glitches or weather disturbances.
And in the meantime Rona Ramon, the widow of Col. Ilan Ramon, said the day before the launch: "We are very happy and proud but also afraid, with mixed emotions, but I am sure that the flight launched tomorrow will be successful." In response to the question of "Hidan" and YNET: Ramon said that she did not know about the existence of any surprise that the command of the Discovery ferry is preparing in memory of those who perished on the Columbia ferry.
Do you submit that you remember Ilan, even though every day you go through a different topic?
Ramon: "Truly, in our country, day-to-day life is such that one day we deal with one issue and another day with another issue, but I think that when it comes to quality, we never compromise or forget. Ilan really goes on and on. I feel it beyond what is heard in the media. In schools, in various organizations, there is a lot of activity."
Is the field you prefer the field of education?
"Ilan said that the youth is the future and today we saw an example of stimulating the imagination precisely in the direction of art and music inspired by Ilan. It is a living commemoration.”
Ilan Ramon's father, Eliezer Wolferman, also said that he is keeping his fingers crossed that the Discovery launch will go smoothly.
Avi Har-Evan, the former director of the Israel Space Agency, said in a conversation with us: "I think there is a special coincidence in the fact that on the day that the control tower of the Airports Authority is inaugurated and dedicated in the name of Ilan Ramon on a day when all of NASA is in overdrive for the launch of a shuttle space tomorrow After two and a half years, it becomes clear that NASA is not losing hope after overcoming in its opinion all the problems it had, it is renewing the space flights. This shuttle will also carry many memorabilia from the astronauts' families who will be present during the launch.
I know that the astronauts will be very busy with special maneuvers near the International Space Station, simulating repairs in space of faults like those that caused the Columbia disaster. And I guess they will make some gesture, we will wait and see.
How do you feel as someone who was in charge of the Israeli side?
This space dealt with risks, and it was clear to both Ilan and us that there were certain risks. We all believed that NASA was taking all measures. We still think she did everything she thought needed to be done. According to the committee, it turns out that there were any omissions, they took care of a lot and I hope that the mission will go smoothly. But everyone noted, including the new head of NASA. No one guarantees XNUMX% success.
Last night, the members of the Ramon family participated in the naming ceremony of the control tower and the twin towers in Netavg in Ramon's name. In her remarks to a large audience that included senior officials of the Airports Authority and the National Airport Authority of Israel, and the Minister of Transportation Meir Shatrit, Rona Ramon said: "By chance or not, tomorrow the space shuttle Discovery is going to take off for the first time since the disaster. The tension and excitement, characteristic of NASA, is felt in every corner. Our dear friends who are on the ferry, one of whom visited the country last year, Steve Robinson, delivered the warm request of peace to the people. I spoke with him on Saturday and we all wish and wish for a safe takeoff and a safe flight."
"The desire to return to flights is very strong, to cross borders and overcome obstacles and challenges. From space the earth is revealed to be quiet and peaceful when the boundaries are blurred. Only with us, if you look carefully at the pictures you can see the borders. One of the astronauts said that if he were an extraterrestrial choosing where to settle on our blue earth, he would choose the green spot on the Mediterranean coast."
"This is another step for a better future here on Earth. Let me end with a quote from Ilan: "May the peace that prevails here in space come to our small and beautiful country one day." Just now a letter passed here saying that there was another attack (in Netanya). I think this letter from Ilan expresses how we all feel."
Manager Netbag: Space is the future flight space of passenger planes
Zeev Sharig, director of the National Aviation Administration, said that sites in memory of Ilan Ramon are scattered all over the airport, including photos of Israel that he took from space in the incoming passenger hall, and now a large sign has been hung on the control tower: "Migdal Ramon" in a place that is clearly visible from the windows of the planes and those arriving at the terminal 3, next to a large photograph of the Columbia ferry. At the entry point to Israel which is visited by millions of tourists every year. The control tower was chosen because it is the most important aviation infrastructure project and a symbol of progress. This is with the intention of educating the future generation to love space through aviation. The Airports Authority is identified with aviation and space. The future flight space for passenger planes is space. Like the first Israeli astronaut who gave us the desire and ambition to soar high, to witness, to learn, to enrich professionalism as he wrote in his letter to the Air Force Base in May 2000: Occupation in space is a national goal.
Director General of the Airports Authority, Gabi Ofir: "We gathered here with the purpose of saying thank you to a unique and special person. A man who had a dream, who on his way to fulfilling the dream reminded us all that we have forgotten who we are and what makes us unique as a people that in both difficult and happy moments rediscovers its unity. In the 16 days he was in space, he showed himself as Israel at its best."
The coordination center in Israel was renamed after Ilan Ramon
A day before the resumption of the launch of the space shuttles for missions in space, the commemorative plaque at the coordination center at Ben Gurion Airport, named after the Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon, was removed last night. Lt. Col. Ramon perished about two and a half years ago along with six other crew members in the crash of the shuttle "Columbia", during its landing, after completing its mission in space. Since the crash of the Columbia shuttle, the American space agency NASA has stopped the missions of the space shuttles.
At the ceremony, in the presence of his widow, Rona, and the Minister of Transportation, Meir Sheetrit, the coordination tower - the operations center of Ben Gurion Airport, which is responsible for all air activity entering and leaving Israel - was renamed after Ilan Ramon.
The news about the attack in Netanya arrived during the ceremony. In her words, Rona Ramon referred to the events when she quoted Ilan's words, which were read from his space mission: "From space, the earth appears quiet and peaceful, that the borders blur, and only with us can you still see a point with a border...". Rona expressed Ilan's hope that there would be peace in the area. According to her, NASA personnel shared their feelings with her regarding the return of shuttle flights to space and the planned launch of Discovery today.
The CEO of the Airports Authority, Gabi Ofir, said that "Rasht, like the entire nation of Israel, salutes the astronaut, pilot and family man, Ilan Ramon." The naming of the coordination tower after his name and his commemoration in the national project of civil aviation in Israel, expresses the special appreciation that Ilan Ramon received during his lifetime."
The mission commander of the "Discovery" flight that is scheduled to take off today, Eileen Collins, announced that during the docking at the International Space Station, the seven astronauts of the shuttle will hold a special memorial ceremony for the victims of Columbia.
Concentration of scholars of the Columbia disaster
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