Israel has reached an agreement with the United States Space Agency to include the first Israeli female astronaut in a future space mission, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Gila Gamliel, announced Monday morning at the annual Ramon Conference in Tel Aviv.
"We received approval from NASA to send the first Israeli female astronaut into space," the minister said. She added that the Israeli Space Agency has begun screening candidates for the position.
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Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Gila Gamliel at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston in September
(צילום: משרד החדשנות, המדע והטכנולוגיה)
The minister did not say when the Israeli woman is scheduled to join NASA activities and in what framework she will fly into space. Gamliel added that her ministry is promoting the development of the space sector, and that the Israeli space market has the potential to reach an annual turnover of 15 million shekels by mid-century.
President Isaac Herzog, who is in New York for his speech at the United Nations on the occasion of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, sent a recorded greeting in which he said: "We are currently living in an exciting period in space exploration, in which humanity is discovering new ways to utilize space technologies. Not only to explore the stars, but also to promote global health, stability and prosperity on Earth."
Herzog added: "Israel, despite being a small country, stands at the global forefront of the space field and serves as a significant factor in leading international space programs. We are already promoting cooperation with countries that have signed the Abraham Accords, and I am confident that in the near future we will see additional cooperation, which will contribute to both Israel and the international space community. Our leadership in advancing innovation in the field is extremely important to Israel's security, economic and scientific future and should be given top priority."
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Gamliel next to a model of a spacecraft and pictures of astronauts destined to orbit the moon in the Artemis program
(Photo: Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology)
Gamliel visited NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston in September. She said during the visit that "supporting the training of the first Israeli female astronaut in NASA's prestigious program will not only advance the field of space exploration, but will also constitute a significant investment in the future of Israeli science and technology. This milestone will serve as an inspiration for future generations and emphasize the importance of gender equality in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics."
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During her visit to Houston, she spoke about the first Israeli astronaut, who was killed in the Columbia space shuttle disaster in 2003. "This training will continue the legacy of the late Ilan Ramon. Now, more than ever, it is essential to foster growth engines for the Israeli economy and society," she said.
During the same visit, Gamliel met with senior NASA officials to discuss deepening cooperation between Israel and the American space agency. NASA officials indicated that they would be happy to cooperate on the issue of training Israeli astronauts. In addition, Gamliel discussed promoting Israel's involvement in the Artemis moon exploration program, including continued development and testing of Israeli technologies such as the radiation protection suit; expanding Israeli research on the International Space Station, following the success of the Rakia mission, in which civilian astronaut Eytan Stibbe participated; and collaborations in the fields of education and the community, with the aim of encouraging the next generation of Israeli scientists and engineers.