It is Israeli Space Week.
Conferences for researchers and 100 educational events for over 100,000 children were planned throughout the country.
The Jerusalem Bloomfield Science Museum had free entrance times with special exhibits.
Those who have seen the Ramon Crater will nod their heads at this announcement: The Israeli Space Agency and the Austrian Space Forum signed an agreement to simulate a manned Mars expedition in the Mars-like Ramon Crater in the heart of the Negev Desert in Israel.
If anything looks like the surface of Mars, it is the Ramon Crater.
Columbia was NASA’s first space shuttle, the first reusable crewed spacecraft in history. It carried out 28 missions and flew 160 astronauts. On February 1, 2003, after a 16-day mission in space, the shuttle broke up upon reentry to the earth’s atmosphere with seven astronauts on board, including Col. Ilan Ramon, Israel’s first astronaut. (No relationship to crater)
Israeli Space Week was an initiative of Rona Ramon and led by the Israeli Space Agency and the Ministry of Science.
For Israeli Space Week, the families of the ill-fated US astronauts came to Israel and met with President and Mrs. Rivlin at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s residence.
The families presented the president with a copy of this NASA photograph taken at the training compound in 2002, several months before the disaster. The image shows the astronauts’ space suits hanging next to each other with American flags on their sleeves, and the Israeli flag on the sleeve of Ilan Ramon.
The latest news is that Israeli and German companies announced a joint moon venture.
Back on the ground, for thousands of years focus has been on Jerusalem.
Since 2013, the sculpture “Centre of the World” by David Breuer-Weil has been in Teddy Park.
Look closely and you will see the Tower of David in reflection – and me upside down.
Jerusalem of old and new, is seen on Jaffa Road with crowds of shoppers and the light rail train.
Jerusalem streets are filling with modern buildings.
While Tel Aviv gets most of attention, there is a growing tech center also in Jerusalem.
In the rapidly growing Azriella College of Engineering, a JLMBioCity meeting was held this week.
Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Hahoum had this to say (apologies for this screen shot).
Advice was shared along with presentations of 6 of the 13 life saving companies highlighted.
The interested audience heard of new treatments in mental health, monitoring kidney function,
and of treating cotton to make fabrics that not only reduce infection, but reduce wrinkles.
Some of the Jerusalem technology really sounds out of this world.
More photos from JLMBioCity evening HERE
Get ready, signs are up for שאון חורף Shaon Horef, Winter Noise, the cultural street festival in a different location each Monday night in February. Jaffa Gate is planned for the 18th.
One never knows what in the world will be found at these annual winter “cultural” performances.
Tu Bishvat is over. The almond trees have bloomed.
And what in the world?
Purim costumes were out at this Jerusalem shopping site near the main bus station. Early bird shoppers will find the best selection of Israeli policemen and IDF soldiers for boys and fancy dresses for girls.
Hamentashen. Ready. Set. Go.
No blast off here yet. Not ready to get ready for Purim.
In Jerusalem, Shushan Purim is to be celebrated on Friday, March 22.
There is still very much to do and happening on the Jerusalem streets.