Israel ventures into space for second time
The Ramon Foundation participates in preparing the mission of Israel’s second-ever astronaut Eytan Stibbe — a first nonprofit organization to be partnered with such a mission.
Director General at the Ramon Foundation Ran Livne is experiencing exciting times. On Nov. 16, Livne and some of his team members met with President Reuven Rivlin at the president’s residence in Jerusalem. There, they revealed the identity of Israel’s second-ever astronaut — veteran Israel Defense Forces (IDF) pilot Eytan Stibbe — who is expected to fly to the International Space Station in about a year. For Livne, the announcement was moving on multiple levels, as decorated retired pilot Col. Stibbe was also a close friend and colleague of Israel’s first astronaut, late Ilan Ramon. In fact, Ramon and Stibbe had served together in earlier years at the IDF air force 117th Squadron.
Rivlin shared Livne’s excitement, and tweeted shortly after the meeting, "A day of great national joy and pride. It's not every day that we announce an Israeli astronaut is going to space. Eytan Stibbe will fly with the blue and white flag [on] his uniform, reminding us that the sky is no longer the limit!"
