Columbia astronauts' relatives visit Israel

• published: 21 Jul 2015
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1. Various of Colombia astronaut''s families at photo opportunity 2. Motti Zandberg, Israel''s Science Minister presenting gift to Evelyn Husband, wife of commander Rick Husband 3. Close up of gift 4. Various of photo opportunity 5. SOUNDBITE: (Hebrew) Motti Zandberg, Israeli Science Minister: "We hope this trip will demonstrate to you the specialness of our country and through it, you will learn about another aspect of (astronaut) Ilan Ramon." 6. Rona Ramon, Zandberg, Husband and Stephen Robinson, US astronaut from NASA sitting on couch for press conference 7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rona Ramon, wife of Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon: "It is really a special moment for me. Actually the visit in Israel and the plan for a visit started a few years ago when Ilan was selected. He wanted to show the astronauts'' families a little piece of Israel the way we live it and not the way we see it in the media. I feel that here, with the help of the government and with the help of Motti and his staff and the help of the airforce, we are actually fulfilling another wish of his (Ilan)." 8. Pan of couch 9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Evelyn Husband, wife of Commander Rick Husband: "The very first moment that Rick was assigned this mission, he said to me that we''re going to probably get to go to Israel. So that was something we dreamed about and were excited about even when they were in space. I remember when they had the interview with Prime Minister Sharon and he invited them personally. Rick emailed me that day from space and said ''did you hear we were officially invited to go to Israel?'' So, I am so honoured and privileged and thrilled that we got to come and that our children got to come." 10. SOUNDBITE (English) Stephen Robinson, US astronaut from NASA: "Personally its very exciting too because I''ve been in space for 20 days in my life and I''ve looked down on this country from orbit many times. I looked down on this part of the world and thought about all of these places I''ve heard about since I was a child that I''ve never actually seen but I could see this beautiful country. So now I get to experience the country itself and its people and that''s very exciting and the next time I go into space, which will be the next time the shuttle flies, I will be able to look down on this country with a whole new understanding. So I appreciate and thank your hosting us here." 11. Wide of press conference STORYLINE: Relatives of the six American astronauts killed in the Columbia shuttle disaster in February 2003 arrived in Israel on Sunday, accepting an invitation from Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that was extended to the crew before the craft broke up on re-entry to earth. Their arms wrapped around each other, Israeli Rona Ramon and American Evelyn Husband, spoke emotionally of how close they had grown despite their different religions and backgrounds since their husbands were killed on February 1, 2003. Israeli's Science Minister Motti Zandberg presented the families with a gift to commemorate their visit. He told the families that he hoped the visit would show them another aspect of Ilan Ramon, the Israeli astronaut killed in the shuttle. Rona Ramon said that showing her husband, Ilan's country to the astronauts' families was a dream of his, and so having the families visit was fulfilling one of his wishes. Sharon had invited Captain Rick Husband and his crew to visit Israel during a satellite phone conversation while the shuttle was in orbit. Evelyn Husband said that being able to visit Israel some day was something she had hoped for when her husband Rick was in space. Also attending was Stephen Robinson, one of the US astronauts who will fly on the shuttle's next flight. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/92c04f774c5cb895d469cac9d5ce9bc8 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork