Jewish Astronaut Sends Well-Wishes

Jewish astronaut Garrett Reisman, who is currently aboard the STS-123 Space Shuttle, sent his well-wishes to President Shimon Peres Wednesday.

"From the crew of the International Space Station, I would like to send all of you my best wishes for the 60th Independence Day," Reisman wrote. "As the first Jewish crew member on the Space Station, this Independence Day is particularly important to me and I am very proud to be carrying a copy of the Independence Scroll on board the station." He added: "Whenever the space station is located over the state of Israel, I try to find a window, and it always manages to move me when I see Israel's familiar outline coming toward us from the horizon."

At the request of Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon's widow, Rona Ramon, President Peres gave her a signed copy of the Declaration of Independence and an autographed Presidential banner, which she passed on to Reisman and which he took on board the shuttle. After completing a seven-week mission, Reisman will return to Earth this month as Mission Specialist 5 aboard STS-124.