| Space Research Institute |
| Written by Henk van Esch |
| Thursday, 19 February 2009 12:18 |
Space Research Institute Building at the Technion Inaugurated:30 Years to the Israeli Space Program, 20 Years to the first “Ofek” Satellite, 10 Years to the Technion SatelliteThe Norman and Helen Asher Space Research Institute Building was inaugurated at the Technion, marking 30 years to the Israeli space program, 20 years to the first “Ofek” satellite and 10 years to the Technion satellite – “Gurwin TechSat”. The new building, which is three stories and 1,600 square meters, has six laboratories, a seminar room, conference rooms and a satellite station on the roof. Prof. Haim Eshed, the head of the space program in the Israeli Defense Ministry, said that “the Iranian satellite is primitive and we have no reason to be afraid of it.” Nevertheless, he cautioned that the launcher which launched the satellite is dangerous and should worry the world. “Ten years ago, students at the Technion built and launched a much more complicated and complex satellite. We predicted that it would remain in space two years and today, on its 10th anniversary, it is still up there -alive and kicking and transmitting,” he added. Prof. Eshed predicted that in another year we will begin to see space tourism. “In the first stage, tourists will go into space, see amazing sunrises and sunsets and experience weightlessness, all for $200,000,” he detailed. A family representative of the donors, Robert Asher, said that he hopes that space research will unite people all over our planet and bring them closer together. Technion President, Prof. Yitzhak Apeloig, said that in this case the sky is really the limit and wished the Institute’s researchers fruitful work and research. The head of the Space Research Institute, Prof. Moshe Guelman, said that space, because of its power, influence and symbolism, must be a high priority of the State of Israel and that the Space Research Institute will contribute towards realizing this vision. Pictured: Inaugurating the new building (from right to left): Prof. Omri Rand, Dean of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering; Prof. Moshe Guelman; Technion President, Prof. Yitzhak Apeloig; Robert Asher and his wife Maureen Sheinbok; and Prof. Haim Eshed. |
