NASA Administrator Visits Israel

UNCLAS TEL AVIV 000391 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR OES/S, NEA/RA AND NEA/IPA AMMAN FOR ESTH - BHALLA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TSPA ETRD PREL IS SUBJECT: NASA Administrator Visits Israel ¶1. (U) Summary. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden visited Israel January 23-28 to present the keynote speech at the Fifth Ilan Ramon International Space Conference, to commemorate the legacy of Israel's first astronaut, and to meet with senior Israeli government officials to discuss opportunities for enhanced civil space cooperation. Administrator Bolden was joined by Assistant Administrator for External Relations Michael O'Brien and several NASA research scientists. Administrator Bolden met with President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Minister of Science and Technology Daniel Hershkovits, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Daniel Ayalon, U.S. Ambassador to Israel James Cunningham and Israel Space Agency Director General Zvi Kaplan. During the visit, Administrator Bolden visited with Rona Ramon, the widow of the Israeli Astronaut who died during NASA's STS-107 Columbia mission, and the Administrator visited astronaut Ilan Ramon's gravesite. Administrator Bolden also met with Israel's leading aerospace companies, gave a presentation to Israeli high school students, and signed a joint statement making Israel an affiliate partner of the NASA Lunar Science Institute. Discussions with Israeli officials yielded agreement to explore further ways the two countries could deepen cooperation on earth science research. End Summary. ¶2. (U) Administrator Bolden met President Peres on January 24, accompanied by Ambassador Cunningham and Science Minister Hershkovitz. Peres talked of the tie forged between the two states by Ilan Ramon's death in the shuttle Columbia accident, and asked for continued partnership with the US in space research. Israel's two greatest friends, Peres noted, are the United States and science research. Finding ways to do things better, higher and cheaper under resource constraints he said was an Israeli specialty, and he hoped Israeli research would be tapped by the US. Israelis are risk-takers, Peres said, and he asked that Israel be included in NASA's future manned space program. Minister Hershkovits said Israel's space program draws inspiration domestically from Ilan Ramon and internationally from NASA's example of expertise. Bolden lauded the accomplishments of Israel and contributions of Ilan Ramon, while underscoring that NASA's future programs were being decided over the coming weeks. The future budget is unclear, he stressed, and the manned shuttle program was ending after coming September's flight. Bolden noted that many technical problems have to be solved before future long duration human space missions are feasible and remarked how Israel is a world leader in technology development. Administrator Bolden noted that it may be possible to begin discussions on future flight opportunities for an Israeli astronaut after NASA receives guidance on the future of its human spaceflight. ¶3. (SBU) When meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, potential future cooperation was discussed. The Prime Minister also inquired about having another Israeli astronaut. NASA again mentioned that the shuttle program is ending and the future of manned spaceflight is currently being reviewed. The potential for benefits to industry and science in both countries was recognized by both parties, and it was agreed that further discussions should be held by the respective space agencies to develop possible avenues for closer cooperation. The Prime Minister gave the Head of the Israeli Space Agency the action to work with NASA to develop a future cooperation plan. ¶4. (U) Addressing the Fifth Ilan Ramon Conference, Administrator Bolden gave a brief overview of NASA's work in space operations, aeronautics, science, and exploration. The Administrator highlighted NASA's cooperation, and how the agency is always searching for opportunities for mutually beneficial areas of collaboration on research and space exploration. Administrator Bolden also noted the importance NASA assigns to education, as stimulating student interest in science encourages future engineers and researchers, ultimately advancing technology and innovation. He lauded the role Rona Ramon has taken on in promoting science education in Israel. Separately, Bolden also met with fifty high school students at the American Center in Jerusalem, and gave an educational presentation on the Space Shuttle missions the Administrator commanded, as a former astronaut, and on NASA's overall mission. ¶5. (U) Administrator Bolden visited several of Israel's leading aerospace industries, including ElBit Optical systems, Israel Aerospace Industries, and Raphael. At each stop, he received briefings on Israel's latest technology, ranging from remote sensing and observations to satellite building to Israel's independent launch capacity. ¶6. (U) On January 27, Administrator Bolden signed a joint declaration with ISA Director Zvi Kaplan making Israel an affiliate of the NASA Lunar Science Institute (NLSI). The NLSI is a partnership program to provide collaboration opportunities for researchers, and will link the Israel Network for Lunar Science and Exploration with similar institutions in the US, Canada, and Korea. Ben Gurion University in Beersheva will be Isral's liaison with the NLSI. The research programof the NLSI includes investigations of the moon iself, of the lunar environment's effects on terresrial life, and of science inquiry using the moonas an observation platform. ¶7. (SBU) Comment nd Next Steps: The Prime Minister's charge to exlore avenues for deeper cooperation will be defined in part by coming pivotal decisions being made by the Administration and Congress regarding NASA's future direction and funding. Bolden cautioned Israeli interlocutors that NASA, as a civilian agency, is not the chief market for Israeli aerospace technology that some companies believe. Although NASA has contracted with private companies as needed (e.g., SpaceX for lift capacity in the post-shuttle era),future US-Israeli collaboration is likely to be more research and science-based than commercially-based. NASA's future cooperation with Israel is likely to be with the Israeli Space Agency rather than directly with any Israeli companies. NASA will continue to discuss the possibility of a framework agreement with the Israeli Space Agency on cooperation and specific cooperation on education, earth science, launch safety, and hyper spectral data. NASA will look into the possibility of holding a workshop in the Middle East to allow scientists and decision makers from the Middle East to discuss potential change in future water yield with a changing climate, and demonstrate how remote sensing can be used to better manage and study water resources. NASA also agreed to host a visit of the Israeli Minister of Science and Technology and the Head of the Israeli Space Agency when they travel to the U.S. Cunningham