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Members of a NASA delegation at Israeli President Moshe Katzav's residence in Jerusalem Sunday. (AP)
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| By Associated Press January 31, 2006 |
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NASA astronauts and the widow of the only Israeli to fly on a space shuttle attended a memorial program Sunday, opening a week dedicated to the seven crew members killed in the Columbia shuttle disaster three years ago.
At the ceremony at the residence of Israeli President Moshe Katsav, seven hills in the Negev desert were named for the astronauts who died Feb. 1, 2003, when the Columbia broke apart during re-entry to Earth's atmosphere, killing all aboard.
Rona Ramon, the widow of Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon, who was aboard the Columbia, joined the families of astronauts David Brown, Laurel Clark and Willie McCool, who also perished. Three NASA astronauts who participated in the only shuttle launch since the Columbia tragedy also attended.
Cmdr. Eileen Collins, who was part of the last shuttle flight, said she hopes naming the hills in the Ramon Crater in the Negev after the crew will be an inspiration to all "to continue their mission of exploration and courage."
She said she thinks about the Columbia crew every day.
"I think about them for their great lives, for their love of space flight," she said.
Rona Ramon said she hopes dedicating the hills will show the connection between the natural and human spirit. She also said she wanted to remember the achievements of the crew. The fact that the crater and the late astronaut share the same name is a coincidence.
Israeli officials said they planned to continue to work with NASA. "We have common beliefs and faiths," Katsav said.
Four Israeli space researchers spoke about their work at the event, sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology. This is the third year Ramon has helped organize a Columbia memorial day.
Earlier Sunday, Israeli acting prime minister Ehud Olmert met with Ramon, the families of other Columbia victims and the visiting astronauts.
"The memory of Ilan Ramon is in every heart," Olmert said in a statement. "He was a source of pride to Israel."
Protective foam fell off Columbia's external fuel tank, hitting the shuttle, leading to its disintegration, a NASA investigation found.
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