Photos: Visit of U.S. Astronaut to Israeli School

Jaffa, Israel
February 2006

Three U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronauts visited schools in Jaffa and Jerusalem to share their experiences flying on the Space Shuttle Discovery STS-114. The below five photos of Dr. Andrew Thomas, Mission Specialist on the Discovery crew, are from a stop at "Yud Bet" High School in Jaffa.

The three astronauts recently returned from resupplying the International Space Station, and they were attending a conference in Israel to mark the third anniversary of Ilan Ramon's death. Ramon was an Israeli astronaut aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia STS-107 that was launched on January 16, 2003. Columbia's seven astronauts died on February 1, 2003, when the shuttle broke apart during reentry into the atmosphere. During their visit, the three also will dedicate seven hills in memory of Columbia's astronauts. [More on Columbia STS-107] U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv Photos by Matty Stern.

11th grade students pose for photo with Dr. Andrew Thomas (in blue) and school Vice Principal Farid Hamdan.

Dr. Andrew Thomas responds to questions from 11th graders.

Vice Principal Farid Hamdan asks Dr. Andrew Thomas how one becomes an astronaut.

Dr. Andrew Thomas poses outdoors with students.

Dr. Andrew Thomas explains the mission "patch" featured in the center of a photo collage, presented as a gift from the crew, to school Vice Principal Farid Hamdan and students.