In the convention, which was held in January 16th, took part over 250 scientists, students, representatives of Israeli space industry firms and officials of s.e.l.a (Israeli space exploitation agency). The convention was organized by "maslul - Israeli students for space exploration", which is the Israeli chapter of s.e.d.s.

After watching space shuttle Colombia launch on a giant screen and cheering for ilan ramon, began the discussion on the future of the Israeli space program and its goals.

Professor (and former army general) Haim Eshed, head of the Israeli space program, said that the space program should get a national top - priority. "Today it is clear that space is a technological and economical super power." Said Eshed.

Eshed exposed the details of an agreement that was achieved last year between Daniel goldin, former administrator of NASA, and Ariel Sharon, the prime minister of Israel.

According to Eshed, the agreement concerned Israeli involvement and limited partnership in the International Space Station project. Eshed said that Israel was supposed to raise a yearly sum of 5 million U.S. $ according the agreement, but the government failed to raise the money.

Mrs. Limor livnat, the Israeli minister of education and science who was also in the convention and is in charge of s.e.l.a (Israeli space exploitation agency), said that she would make any effort in order to locate the needed funds in the next government that will take place after the elections in Israel (in January 28th). Livnat said: "it is only natural for Israel to be a part of the unbelievable project of the ISS", and gained a massive applause from the audience.

The majority of the other speakers, such as Daniel Rozenberg, president of maslul, and dov saar, head of Israel's aeronautics and astronautics society, criticized the government for under - budgeting of the Israeli space program, and indicated that the total budget of s.e.l.a (Israeli space exploitation agency) in the last year was only 2.5 million Israeli shekels, or about 0.5 million u.s dollars. Therefore, the industry, the academy or the ministry of security funds almost every Israeli space activity.

"Israel's space industry sector, which is estimated worth is about a billion dollars a year, must have at list some governmental backing, in defining new goals in the space field. We can launch a probe to the moon in a year or so, if we had a green light from the government." Said Tal inbar of the weizman institute of science.

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