Space Shuttle Columbia: Mission of Hope

Gr 7 Up—The life of Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli astronaut, who died in the 2003 Columbia mission, is the focus of this program. The purpose of the mission and the reason for the shuttle explosion are not explored. Instead, viewers see the development of personal bonds between the seven astronauts. The charismatic Ramon, the son of Holocaust survivors, considered himself a representative of all Jewish people and was adamant about being included on the mission even when budget constraints threatened it. The documentary also tells the story of a miniature Torah that a fellow Israeli scientist received in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. By taking the Torah into space, Ramon sought to make a symbolic gesture to show the world the resilience of the Jewish people. The emotional story is told through footage of the astronauts' training and mission as well as interviews with surviving colleagues, friends, and relatives, including Ramon's widow. The picture and sound quality are superb, and the film effectively conveys its message of hope in the face of tragedy. While science and space exploration topics are not thoroughly covered, the film can be useful for classes studying Israeli history or for viewers interested in learning about Ramon's life.—Ryan Henry, Daviess County Public Library, Owensboro, KY