NASA Astronaut Dr. Andrew Thomas Speaks to Students at Yud-Bet High School in Jaffa About the Wonders of Space

Three U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration astronauts, Commander Eileen Collins, and Mission Specialists Andrew Thomas and Steve Robinson, arrived in Israel on January 28th for a week-long visit sponsored by the Israeli Ministry of Science and Technology. The three astronauts, fresh from the recent Discovery "Return to Flight" mission to resupply the International Space Station, had a busy week that included ceremonies to honor the memory of the Columbia Crew, including Astronaut Colonel Ilan Ramon, Israel's first astronaut, as well as official visits, conference presentations and information sessions for high school students to promote space exploration and space-related opportunities.

The three participated in a ceremony in the Ramon Crater near Mitzpe Ramon, in which seven hills were named after the seven fallen Columbia astronauts - Ilan Ramon, Michael Anderson, David Brown, Kalpana Chawla, Laurel Clark, Rick Husband, and William McCool.

Eleventh graders at Jaffa's Yud-Bet High School were thrilled when Andy Thomas, in a blue NASA jumpsuit emblazoned with mission patches, walked into their classroom. His presentation wowed students and teachers alike, with a short video depicting life in the space shuttle. The students asked many thoughtful questions: about how the physiology of the body changes while in space - one actually becomes taller while in space, due to the lack of gravity, however, this effect does not last more than a few hours after returning to earth; how the astronauts sleep - in bags that they secure to either the floor, wall or ceiling; and how Thomas's family felt about his space travel - excited.

11th grade students from "Yud Bet" High School in Jaffa pose for photo with NASA Astronaut Dr. Andrew Thomas (in blue), Mission Specialist on the Space Shuttle Discovery. To his left is Farid Hamdan, Vice-Principal of "Yud Bet" High School.	NASA Astronaut Dr. Andrew Thomas, Mission Specialist on the Space Shuttle Discovery crew, explains the mission "patch" featured in the center of the photo collage, presented as a gift from the crew to "Yud Bet" High School in Jaffa to Farid Hamdan, Vice-Principal of the school.	NASA Astronaut Dr. Andy Thomas, Mission Specialist on the Space Shuttle Discovery crew, responds to questions from 11th graders at Jaffa's "Yud Bet" High School.
NASA Astronaut Dr. Andy Thomas, Mission Specialist on the Space Shuttle Discovery crew, meets with students at Jaffa's "Yud Bet" High School.	Farid Hamdan, Vice-Principal of the "Yud Bet" High School in Jaffa asks NASA Astronaut Dr. Andy Thomas, Mission Specialist on the Space Shuttle Discovery crew how one becomes an astronaut.