As far as I know, the only two Jewish astronauts have both died in horrible accidents. Perhaps NASA should reconsider.

David Wolf and Jeffrey Hoffman. And Judith Resnick had completed a successful mission before perishing in Challenger in 1986.

One of the first class of Soviet Cosmonauts was Jewish, Boris Volynov. Volynov faced anti-Semites who delayed his first mission. See http://astronautix.com/astros/volynov.htm Here is the amazing story of Volynov's nearly deadly re-entry during his first mission to space: http://www.jamesoberg.com/062002flightjournalsoyuz5.html As noted elsewhere, there have been Jewish astronauts aside from Judy Resnik and Ilan Ramon.

It'd be fascinating to see a Malaysian and Israeli in the same space station together. Would the Malaysia government refuse to allow their astronaut to be in the space station at the same time as an Israeli astronaut? I hope they do live together in space and put aside the fanatical obsession that some Arab and Muslim goverments have with ostracizing anything or anyone Israeli at all costs.

#5, what is with all the hatred? If you are Jewish you are guilty of Lashon Hara, evil speech. Also you exhibit the tendency toward Baseless hatred. Please examine yourself and ask why you hate those people who live their life according to Torah, the gift from Hashem. Baseless hatred was the reason for the second great exile of Jews from Israel. Would all Jews please hold their tongues before speaking Lashon Hara about your brothers and sisters?!?!

Take a valium and calm down!

Wow, how low can you socalled "jews" go...... Any Hebrew can enjoy these benefits and its sickening you would so easily insult and punish those that follow Torah law, that respect our traditions and customs of our ancestors that truly built this land many years ago, without them you nor me would be here.

and more safe to send Russian-speaking unreligious Israeli on Russian space-ship.

Among the issues: Who will NASA choose as the Posek? Will the Astronaut accept that Posek? Issues: When to davn; When is shabbat?; women on board; etc. This is worthy of a major conference on each subject line. It would be neat to see the collection of responsa as they come in. Who's going to initiate?

I have never writen a talkback and i'm not shure I ever plan to again but a distant cousin of mine was an astronaut who went on more than one mission and is defintly Jewish Dr Jay Apt, bio avalible at NASA web site

Do you honestly believe that was accidental? Those were the only 2 space ships which were lost in any of the US missions.

Not true. In 1967, Gus Grissom, Roger Chaffee and Ed White were killed in an Apollo capsule. None of them is Jewish. And what does it mean to suggest that Jews shouldn't fly space missions? Sounds like narrow-minded bigoted submoronic hate speech to me.

First off the one with Gus Grissom which was lost was lost in a training accident ON EARTH. What I meant was even you have to admit that this last one appeared to be more than a n accident. True , I am a bit of a conspirasist, but it seemed so much more than coincidental. And with so much chance for sabatage. Sorry if I offended you. I certainly did not mean that Jews could not be astronauts. They proved to be excellent ones and we lost two great people.

"Why can't Jews go into space? Because all day long it would be... shacharit, minha, maariv... shacharit, minha, maariv..." (an old Lubavitcher joke) NASA's early days were hardly multi-cultural. The first astronaut team was, to a man, WASP - White, Anglo-Saxon Protestant. Times have changed, but perhaps the early Jewish astronauts kept a low profile given that early culture. Ilan Ramon, z"l, broke the mold. Though secular by background, his encounters with practicing Conservative Jews in Houston (mostly scientists and engineers) led him to a different perspective. His journey became not only a moment of pride for Israel, but served as an example for the Jewish people. Thus he wasn't going into space eating treif. He went into space with a miniature Torah scroll, Holocaust memorabilia, recited the first shabbat kiddush in orbit, etc. Aside: In late summer 2005 I discussed this story on a bus ride from Jerusalem back to Haifa with a charming young Israeli woman who related how many Israelis, though exceedingly proud, had a sense of foreboding about the mission. I'd never heard that. As to the halachic standards, I recall a ruling that time would be accounted from the launch site. The direction hardly matters since one can't even stand in zero-g, a shuttle typically travels "upside down", etc. A simple "orient one's heart to Jerusalem" would probably suffice.

Our world revolves around Eretz Israel and keeping the Mitzvot there. What purpose does Judaism serve in the Galut of another planet or galaxy? It's like a fish out of water.

When I read #14, I immediately remembered the awful Grissom, White and Chafee accident. In #16 you backtrack and say essentially that that one didn't count because they were still on earth. Sounds like you stretched logic to fit your offensive theory.