The Israel Space Agency is considering sending a second Israeli astronaut to the International Space Station. According to an ISA statement, the idea was discussed during talks at the International Astronautical Congress in China several months ago. If an Israeli astronaut joins the international launch, he or she will need to complete about two years of training and preparation. The training, preparation and obtaining a position for a manned launch to the ISS is a costly process, and there is currently no budget set aside for that purpose in Israel, nor have candidates been selected or a date mentioned for the space flight. Each manned launch has room for only three astronauts, and all spots for the next two years have been filled. The ISA's announcement of the possibility of sending an Israeli astronaut on a space flight comes a week ahead of Israel Space Week, taking place from Jan. 26 to Feb. 1 in memory of the death of Israeli astronaut Col. Ilan Ramon in the Columbia shuttle tragedy in 2003.
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Israel may send second astronaut into space
Eleven years after the tragic death of Col. Ilan Ramon in the 2003 Columbia shuttle disaster, Israel Space Agency discusses idea of sending a second Israeli astronaut into space • Announcement comes ahead of Israel Space Week • No budget set aside yet for launch.