Being the first Israeli astronaut, I feel I am representing all Jews and all Israelis.

NASA cleared the space shuttle Columbia for launching today on a 16-day science mission with a crew that includes the first Israeli astronaut.

Security surrounding the launch and landing of the space shuttle had been increased because the crew included the first Israeli astronaut.

June 20 - Ilan Ramon (died 2003), Israeli astronaut.

"There will be more Israeli astronauts," Dr. Neeman said.

He also said no plans had changed for the first flight of an Israeli astronaut aboard a scheduled shuttle mission next May.

In 1995, President Bill Clinton announced that NASA would fly an Israeli astronaut.

The first-ever presence of an Israeli astronaut on an American space mission gave rise to suspicions about terrorist motives by anti-Israeli extremists.

There was concern that the involvement of the Israeli astronaut, Col. Ilan Ramon, made this flight more of a target, the official said.

One of those killed in the shuttle disaster was an Israeli astronaut, Col. Ilan Roman.