Part of Columbia astronaut's diary found in Texas

Posted 1/26/2004 1:21 AM Updated 1/26/2004 2:25 AM

HOUSTON (AP) — Sections of a diary belonging to one of the seven
astronauts killed last year when the space shuttle Columbia broke
apart over Texas were found a few months ago and returned to his
family, according to a published report.

The Jerusalem Post reported that sections of Israeli astronaut Ilan
Ramon's diary were found in a Texas field with other debris.

The diary was submitted to the Israel Police for help in deciphering
what was written, since the pages were written in Hebrew and some of
the pages were full of holes, the newspaper reported.

Johnson Space Center spokesman James Hartsfield confirmed on Friday
that any personal items found among the debris were returned to the
astronauts' families.

"Out of respect for the privacy of the families we will not identify
those items," he said.

A woman who answered the phone Friday at the Houston home of Ramon's
widow said Rona Ramon didn't want to comment.

Columbia broke apart as it re-entered Earth's atmosphere on Feb. 1
after searing gases penetrated a gash in a wing. NASA doesn't expect
to launch another shuttle until next fall at the earliest.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/science...ia-diary_x.htm