Sep 14, 2009
Aspiring astronaut, son of Israeli astronaut, dies in crash
Late Israel astronaut: son dies in crash
Ilan Ramon, Israel’s first (and so far only) astronaut died in his first flight—the ill-fated final mission of the shuttle Columbia in 2003. Now, his son, who also hoped to become an astronaut, will be buried beside him.
Asaf Ramon, 21, died when his F-16 crashed during a training exercise.
In Israel, the elder Ramon is remembered as a national hero. The nation is in mourning over the death of his son. Prime Minister Netanyahu has postponed a meeting the a U.S. envoy to attend the funeral.
