Posted on 06/28/2002 3:51:29 PM PDT by mdittmar
Israel's first astronaut said on Friday that he has no particular worries about security as he prepares to venture into space aboard a U.S. space shuttle in the coming weeks.
"It's going to be my first flight, hopefully not my last flight," said Ilan Ramon, an Israeli Air Force colonel and part of the crew for a 16-day science mission on shuttle Columbia.
Columbia's flight has been postponed several times, most recently on Tuesday, when the July 19 launch date was scratched after NASA announced engine cracks had been discovered on Columbia and sister shuttle Atlantis.
Tests on Columbia are to be wrapped up next week, and the launch could be rescheduled then. Ramon's comments came during a pre-flight news conference scheduled before the delay.
His presence on the crew at a time of heightened violence in the Middle East has raised questions about security for the shuttle and crew, and whether Columbia could become the target of saboteurs.
NASA has said that without a specific and credible threat, security for Columbia's launch will not differ significantly from launches since the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.
Since then, many details of shuttle countdowns have been kept secret and the Cape Canaveral area has been protected by a no-fly zone around the launch pad.
Armored ships, fighter jets, helicopter gunships and ground forces have all been in evidence as part of security.
Ramon, speaking to reporters from the Johnson Space Center in Houston, where the astronauts train, said no one on the crew had expressed particular concerns about this flight.
"I think my presence in this crew, in this wonderful crew, is just another crewmember," Ramon said. He and fellow astronauts have discussed only "the usual risks after Sept. 11."
For their part, his fellow astronauts warmly welcome Ramon's presence.
"He's a hard charger, wonderfully warm and personable, and because of that, I think without question, across the board, we've all come to embrace and love Ilan," said shuttle pilot Willie McCool.
Kinda nice.
EBUCK
More like a sign of the times, when astronauts are chosen for their ethnicity, religion, or political connections rather than ability. Remember triple-minority Chalwa what's-her-name that --oops! -- forgot to arm a $300 million satellite before deploying it? Of course not. NASA hushed up the fact that that entire mission was nugatory.
I resigned from the shuttle program (not a low-level job, either) over the same PC bull$hit.
One more thing: engine cracks had been discovered on Columbia and sister shuttle Atlantis.
They were NOT "engine" cracks. This should have tipped you off to the competence of the author of this article.
When asked how he planned to do this he said he planned to fly at night. (old joke)
Your comment,Blah,blah,blah.
I thought it was nice to see a headline where they weren't blown to bits.
Hey that's just me.
Neither do I, as long as their country pays for the trip and the nationality of the astronaut is secondary to their expertise.
Unfortunately for the U.S. Taxpayer, that is not the case. These slots are given out specifically because of the nationality or political connections of the astronaut, not because of any expertise they might have. It's a disservice to the American astronaut corp and the people who pay for the flights (e.g. the U.S. taxpayer).
I expect we'll see a Zimbawean or North Korean astronaut soon.
There will probably be an Iraqi or Alqaida astronaut at some point. Seeing how their mission is international goodwill rather than getting us into outer space.
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