Ilan Ramon Museum and Memorial, Mitzpe Ramon

The new memorial and museum for Ilan Ramon is part of the new Makhtesh Ramon visitor center, on the edge of the ‘crater’ in Mitzpe Ramon. Dedicated to the memory and presentation of the life of Ilan Ramon, Israel’s first and only astronaut, who tragically died

Opened in 2013, the new Ilan Ramon Memorial has a fitting setting, overlooking the unique lunar- like landscape of the world’s largest makhtesh, the Ramon Crater, for which Ramon changed his name earlier in life thanks to his love for this part of the Negev Desert of Israel.

Ramon, who is considered to be one of the ‘greatest’ Israelis of all time, was a figure for which the State of Israel mourned following his tragic death. One of Israel’s most highly decorated pilots, he spent many years training at NASA before his mission to Space. His unique attitude and beautiful writings are shown in this unique exhibition which also shares the memory of his son Asaf Ramon, who six years after his father, during his service in the Israeli Air Force when his F16 jet crashed not so far from Mitzpe Ramon.

in the 2003 Columbia disaster when the shuttle disintegrated upon re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere, the exhibition offers a glimpse into his life and amazing story.

Visiting the Ilan Ramon Memorial

The Ilan Ramon exhibition forms part of the new visitor center for Makhtesh Ramon, yet it alone is worth visiting. A tour takes around 1 hour including the section about the Makhtesh