Israel will be sending its first woman astronaut into space.

Although no candidate has been chosen yet, yhe historic announcement was made by Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Gila Gamliel on Monday at the 20th Ilan Ramon International Space Conference in Tel Aviv.

“I received confirmation from NASA to send the first Israeli woman astronaut into space,” Gamliel revealed. “We in Israel have now begun the process of searching for our candidate among our brave women.”

Gamliel also announced that nine nanosatellites built by Israeli high school students, including those from near the Gaza border, will launch on SpaceX rockets from the U.S. West Coast in March.

“Twenty years ago, we began a journey that would transform how the world sees Israel’s place in space exploration,” she said. “By continuing to forge international partnerships and collaborations, we aim to solidify Israel’s status as a global leader in the space industry while contributing to the advancement of global space exploration and innovation.”

Named for Israel’s first astronaut, who perished in the 2003 Columbia disaster, the conference highlighted Israel’s expanding space partnerships, including a new lunar mission agreement with Italy.

The Jewish State’s ascent to space stands as one of the most remarkable technological achievements of the modern era.

On September 19, 1988, Israel launched its first satellite, Ofeq-1, from a site along the Mediterranean coast, becoming the eighth country in the world to achieve independent launch capability. What made the launch so remarkable was that Israel faces a unique challenge. Its rockets must launch westward against Earth’s rotation to avoid hostile territories, requiring 30% more fuel than typical eastward launches.

The Ofeq series of satellites (“horizon” in Hebrew) became the foundation of Israel’s space program, leading to advanced Earth observation satellites and communications systems. In 2019, the private SpaceIL initiative launched Beresheet, making Israel the seventh country to orbit the Moon before the spacecraft crashed during its landing attempt.

With Beresheet 2 planned for 2024 and Israel’s first woman astronaut set to make history, Israelis young and old alike will soon turn their eyes skyward with renewed wonder and pride at their nation’s expanding footprint among the stars.

Editor’s Note: Featured image is AI generated and does not represent a real person.