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Feb. 2, 2003 Putin calls Sharon, hails Ramon as 'person of hope' By THE JERUSALEM POST INTERNET STAFF Advertisement Russian President Vladimir Putin telephoned Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and expressed his "sincerest condolences" on the Columbia tragedy, a statement from Sharon's office said. Putin described Israel's lost astronaut, Col. Ilan Ramon as "an excellent man and a person of hope." He understood it is a "painful loss for the Israeli people." Sharon thanked the Russian leader, saying both their countries are "strong nations that were undergoing difficult times but would succeed in continuing to be strong." Both leaders "agreed to...

Feb. 1, 2003 Ramon to be remembered in Israeli schools Sunday morning By THE JERUSALEM POST INTERNET STAFFIsraeli schools are set spend the first hour of class Sunday, the first day of the Israeli school week, on a special program to commemorate the life and achievements of Israeli astronaut Col. Ilan Ramon, who died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster Saturday. Minister of Education Limor Livnat instructed schools Saturday night to devote the first hour of the day to discussing Ramon's life, his mission in space and his career as an Israeli Air Force pilot, Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert told...

Shuttle has NOT been heard from or seen on tracking radar since 0800Hrs CDT. No contact at Merrit Island tracking station, no voice comm...DEVELOPING.

Israeli Astronaut, IAF Col. Ilan Ramon, who spent a few minutes on Tuesday talking to PM Ariel Sharon over satellite relay, will wake up tomorrow amd work for 12 intense hours in Columbia's science lab. During the day, Ramon will eat three good meals to keep him going. For breakfast, the Israeli Astronaut will have a meal of cornflakes, a Granola bar, orange juice, and Decaf coffee with Cream. For lunch, Ramon will eat kosher chicken and noodles, green beans with mushrooms, two crackers , strawberries, trail mix, a brownie, and two cups of Orange Juice. Ramon's dinner menu consists...