Ilan Ramon was a hero in every sense of the word. As a bold fighter pilot, Air Force colonel in the Israeli military, and payload specialist on the space shuttle Columbia, he was a role model for many young people. As Israel's first astronaut, he captured the hearts of Jews all around the world and was a national hero and a symbol of hope. This biography celebrates the life of an extraordinary man and pays tribute to his enormous courage. Devra Newberger Speregen portrays the life of a national hero who brought a sense of hope to his country during the two-week, ill-fated voyage of the space shuttle Columbia.