Ben Tonia and Eliezer Wolferman. He was born on June 20, 1954 in the Ramat Hen neighborhood of Ramat Gan. As a child, he was calm and relaxed, loved to play with his friends in the neighborhood, but also enjoyed playing at home for many hours. Ilan has an older brother, Gadi, three years his senior. At the age of six, Ilan went to first grade at the elementary school in Ramat Hen. In 1962, due to the replacement of his father’s place of work, the family moved to Be’er Sheva and Ilan continued his studies at the Be’eri elementary school. He was a good and friendly student and had excellent relations with the teachers as well. He completed his high school studies at the “Makif Gim” high school in Be’er Sheva, and here he is considered a good student, surrounded by loving friends. Ilan excelled in the real professions and upon completion of his studies he had two options: continuing his studies in the academic reserve or a pilot course in the air force. Ilan chose the second option and embarked on a glorious career, with many challenges and achievements. At the beginning of August 1972, Ilan enlisted in the air force and began pilot training course no. 73. After eight months in the course he was forced to leave due to a health problem. At that time, the Yom Kippur War took place and Ilan served in an electronic warfare unit at the Umm Hikkava in Sinai. After the war, he returned to Flight No. 75. Even then he was marked as someone who was destined for greatness and after three years completed the course as a combat pilot and an outstanding trainee. In August 1974 he began his regular service and accumulated many hours on Skyhawk and Mirage planes. In January 1980, a ground-based conversion to F-16 aircraft began in Israel. In April, Ilan traveled to Utah in the United States to be transferred to the Hill base as part of a delegation of 12 pilots who were assigned to set up the system. In August 1980, Ilan served in the 117th Squadron as a Naval Pilot. He was 26 years old. In 1981, he was chosen as one of the eight pilots who embarked on the bold attack mission of the nuclear reactor in Baghdad, Iraq. Ilan volunteered to fly on the eighth and final plane despite the great risk in this location, this task was successful and increased the strength of the State of Israel and its deterrent capability. Between 1981 and 1983 he was one of the founders of the 253 Squadron, the first F-16 squadron in the new Ramon base. In 1983, Ilan took a break from his combat duties and went on to four years of studies at Tel Aviv University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in electronics and computer engineering. In 1988, upon his return to the air force, he was appointed deputy commander of the Phantom Squadron, and was later appointed commander of the 117th Squadron at the Ramat David base. During this period the Gulf War was conducted and the squadron was ready to join the war. In 1992, Ilan moved to the rank of colonel and was appointed head of the Israel Defense Forces, where he served for three years. During the course of his studies, Ilan was married to Rona, and the couple had four children, three sons and a daughter. Their eldest son Assaf was born on February 10, 1988, Tal was born on April 7, 1990, Yiftah was born on June 25, 1993 and his youngest daughter Noa was born on 27.5.1997. In 1998, he and his wife and four children left for Houston, Texas, where he began training at the US space agency NASA for the flight. desecrate. On January 16, 2003, at 17:39, the Columbia shuttle took off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida for 16 days as part of STS-107. Together with his teammates, all of them members of the crew, Ilan, an expert in the cargo of the shuttle, performed about 80 scientific experiments. The results of the experiments are investigated and led to far-reaching conclusions in various fields. Ilan took with him various objects of symbolic significance to the State of Israel and to societyIsraeli. During the flight he turned from space to Israeli citizens and to the Jews of the world and described the symbolism of taking a Torah scroll with him as a symbol of the rebirth of the Jewish people from the ashes of the Holocaust to the glory of space. “There is no better place to express the unity of people in the world than in space,” says Ilan, “We are all human beings and I believe that most of us, perhaps almost all of us, are good people …” Colonel Ilan Ramon fell in the line of duty as a national and human mission to space. On February 1, 2003, shortly before the scheduled landing, 70 kilometers above the state of Texas and at a speed of 20,000 kilometers per hour, the connection with Columbia was cut off. The dimensions of the disaster soon became clear: the shuttle disintegrated as it entered the atmosphere and all seven crew members died. The remnants of the Columbia shuttle spread over a wide area of several states in the United States. On February 10, 2003, Ilan’s body was brought to Israel, and a ceremony was held at the Ben-Gurion Air Force Base. The next day, on February 11, 2003, Ilan was laid to rest in the Nahalal cemetery. Ilan’s life was interrupted at the age of forty-eight, with many plans for the future, leaving behind a wife and four children, parents and brother. On his grave, alongside the symbol of the IDF and the emblem of “Columbia,” was engraved the title “the first Israeli astronaut” and below the words “Listen to my voice as you … Rona.” The media reported extensively on the disaster and broadcast articles and interviews with Ilan during the training he underwent and before the flight to space. Countless actions were taken in memory and commemoration; Many films documenting his life and illuminating his image were shown on television, in ceremonies and events, and presented his activities from the time of the Israeli Air Force to taking off into space. His main focus is on educating the youth to excel in values and contribution to the community. Ilan has become an exemplary role model for identification and identification among the youth, representing the “beautiful Israeli” in all of us. Eight schools are named after him and each of them deals with a different subject related to space and the image of Ilan. In 14 schools, space clubs for outstanding students named Ilan were opened. 1,250 scholarships are awarded each year to students and students. Various activities and competitions in cooperation with the Ministry of Education take place every year as part of the curriculum. On May 3, 2003, Ilan was awarded the prestigious “Medal of Honor” by the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, which was awarded to only 17 people engaged in space, and on 17.5.2003 Tel Aviv University awarded Ilan the prestigious Weiss Medal for sharing International Academic Action In July 2003, Ilan was awarded a certificate of appreciation by the Chief of Staff, Moshe Ya’alon: “For the way he represented the State of Israel and the IDF with an endless demonstration of love and loyalty to his heritage and his people. Colonel Ilan Ramon will be remembered as an outstanding officer, as a breakthrough exemplary and a loyal family member. ” On January 27, 2004, Ilan was given a prize for the award in recognition of his contribution to the Jewish people. “His conduct as a modest, proud Jew and an Israeli air fighter led to the sanctification of the name of God and Israel throughout the world.” On February 4, 2004, the Postal Authority issued the first astronaut stamp, and a state medal “Ilan Ramon and Columbia Shuttle” was issued by the Israel National Medal Company. On 18.3.2004, Ben-Gurion University awarded Ilan the Lifetime Achievement Award – “Appreciation to the Negev boy who took off beyond the horizon … and was given the glory of the world.” On February 1, 2005, a national commemoration was carried out at the Ramon Crater in the Ramon Crater. Seven basalt hills were named after Columbia team members. On 19.11.2006 Ilan was awarded the exemplary model of the flight for 29 years of active flight by the Commander of the Israel Air Force, Eliezer Shkedi. The International Space Conference is held every yearIlan Ramon at the Air Force House in Herzliya. In the week preceding the annual memorial ceremony on February 1, astronauts and space scientists are visiting Israel and taking an active part in the conference and various activities taking place in Israel. The conference is sponsored by the Ministry of Science, the Fisher Institute and the Ramon Family. The purpose of the conference is to promote space in Israel in various fields, such as collaborations between the various space agencies in the world, in the field of education and in the military field. This conference has become a tradition since the Columbia disaster and has resonated throughout the country.
