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!"

During an interview with i24 News Nov. 18, Science, Technology and Space Minister Izhar Shai said in regard to the announcement that "the mission has the national goal of elevating space exploration, and reaching out to space missions as they relate to science and research."

Israel’s space adventure started many years ago, with an advanced satellite industry. But the real boost to visibility and public interest came in 1997, when IDF pilot Col. Ramon was selected to fly aboard the space shuttle Columbia. For Ramon, the educational dimension of his mission and advancing the Israeli high-tech industry were both of great importance, and he became a symbol of inspiration and leadership in Israel. Thousands of students and adults followed closely his preparations for the mission, mourning later its tragic end when the space shuttle broke up as it returned to Earth, killing the seven astronauts on board.