Posted on 02/05/2003 11:54:36 AM PST by yonif
Channel 2 television broadcast footage tonight of how Israel appeared from outer space, as the country's first astronaut, Ilan Ramon, and his six colleagues saw it on the 11th day of their orbit.
In the minute-long segment of film, beamed by computer back to NASA, Astronaut David Brown described the view as he pointed the camera and zoomed in on Israel and the Sinai Peninsula. "This is the country where our famous astronaut Ilan Ramon comes from."
Then Brown, said pointing the camera at a small patch of blue,"here you can see the Dead Sea."
Then he focused on a hazier, greenish area to the left of the mainly brown picture and said, "this is where Jerusalem is."
Next he moved the lens south toward the Sinai, and said "this is a great scuba diving spot recommended by Ilan Ramon," as Ramon pointed to the southern tip of the peninsula, which could be seen quite clearly, Sharm el-Sheikh.
Then the camera moved back over Israel to pointo out the Red Sea. Brown said that "Eilat is Israel's southernmost city."
David Brown was a friend of my wife's for over 20 years-- they went to medical school together and kept in touch ever since. They last met at the Eastern Virginia Medical School reunion last summer in Norfolk. My wife drove from Richmond in her new Lexus SC-430 sports coupe, of which she was quite proud. David, who had piloted a jet in for the occasion, was allowed to drive the car.
He was a modest, somewhat shy, immensely gifted, man who was much loved by his fellow classmates. They will be holding a memorial for him in Norfolk on Saturday.
He also knew quite a bit about Israel. Blennos
You can really see Brown liked Ilan a lot. I don't think I have ever seen a shuttle crew which was closer to each other. You can see it in so many outtakes. I hope the families can take consolation that their loved one died among dear friends.
I had just seen Dave in August and he had given me a pin of the space shuttle mission: the blue shuttle with all of their names on it and the mission number. I wore it for weeks to work. I kept it in my jewerly box with my prize possessions.
He was soooo excited about this mission, It was his life's dream come true. My classmates and I were so proud of him, We all loved him, he was so unpretentious, and kind, without a mean bone in his body. He loved driving in my sports car,
My classmates and I are having a hard time coping with his death. We are calling each other frantically to comfort each other and share memories of Dave. There is a memorial service we will attend this Saturday. Dave is a hero, but we do not want him to be a hero, we want him back!
Wife of Blennos
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