THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Friday, July 1, 1983 29 Jewish Astronaut May Realize Childhood Dream Aboard Shuttle Re-printed from The Jewish Veteran cording to Hoffman. He has an insatiable love for sports From formal, classical as- and enjoys skiing, moun- tronomy to rocket ships, as- taineering, hiking, bicycl- tronaut Dr. Jeffrey ing and sailing. He said he Hoffman, 38, has been in- enjoys science fiction, not terested in space and stars surprisingly, and books since he was a child. about religion "with a Joining the National philosophical bent to Aeronautics and Space Ad- them." ministration (NASA) Hoffman attended high "seemed to be a natural school in Scarsdale, N.Y. thing to do . . . something I and graduated summa cum wanted to be part of," said laude with his BA degree in Hoffman. astronomy from Amherst Hoffman is unique in that College in 1966. In 1971, he he is one of two Jewish as- received a doctorate of phi- DR. JEFFREY HOFFMAN losophy in astrophysics tronauts. His Jewish col- league Judith Resnick, one most that an agency re- from Harvard. of eight women in the space sponsible for flying man Hoffman -was working as program, is eligible with into space would actually an astronomer in the Center Hoffman for a mission as- hire someone who has for Space Research at the signment at any time. never flown a plane, but Massachusetts Institute of It may seem ironic to that is exactly what hap- Technology when he pened with Hoffman. learned that NASA was Amused with the seeming looking for astronauts. He FACIAL HAIR he explained was one of 8,000 applicants, PERMANENTLY ambiguity, that actual flight experi- and one of the 35 selected to REMOVED ence was unnecessary for join the space program in Eyebrows, Neckline, Arms him because he was hired 1978., Recommended by Physicians as a mission specialist, Upon joining NASA, FREE CONSULTATION not a pilot. He has always Hoffman received basic SHIRLEY PERSIN been fond of parachuting instruction in space Registered Electrologist and NASA has since physics and astronautics taught him to fly. during-a one-year train- ADVANCE BUILDING 23077 GREENFIELD, Room 260 His academic qualifica- ing piogram. He has been Near Northland 8. Providence Hospital tions combined with his var- assigned jobs related to PHONE 357-1108 ied background contributed crew work on the space Over 20 Years Experience to his getting the job, ac- shuttle Columbia includ- ing plans for space ren- Wedding, Rehearsal and Ceremony Assistance dezvous, plans for simulator and guidance programs, plans for orbit maneuvering rockets and for experiments in- 559-4757 volving long-range tele- scopes. He also has worked closely with Columbia's flight crews and was at mission con- trol during the space shuttle's last flight. His excitement and op- timism, however, are often tempered by the obvious 6600 WEST MAPLE 661-4050 perils of exploring the un- known. He shares a concern AND for his safety with his wife ZWAV. Barbara and their two sons. of Southfield Hoffman is unsure of 26555 Telegraph 353-7700 when he will be going up but believes it will be sometime PROUDLY ANNOUNCE in the next two years. "It will fulfill a dream I've had A STRICTLY KOSHER Sharon Padzensky JEWEL KOSHER CATERERS "SUNSET DINNER" Every Sunday 5 P.M.- 8:30 P.M. AT THE FABULOUS REVOLVING RESTAURANT IN THE SKY Top of The Holiday Inn in Southfield -DON'T MISS THE EXPERIENCE— Different food selection each Sunday, including "Italian Night," "Chinese Night" and "Israeli Night." Reservations Suggested For Large Groups Moderately Priced Supervised by Council of Orthodox Rabbis —Also Available— WEDDINGS — BAR MITZVAHS AND ALL CATERING NEEDS CALL PHIL TEWEL 661-4050 for such a long time — a feeling of being basically in a new world. I want to know what it's like to liVe free of gravity — weightless — for an extended period of time . . . to know the feeling of being off the Earth," he said. Hoffman says that in the future the space shuttle will be used to bring relief crews up to a permanent opera- tions base that will be con- ducting experiments and analyzing data with equip- ment and computers aboard the space station instead of sending the information down to Earth. Although the idea of a permanent habitation in space is not new, it is still in the form of a proposal. Hoffman says that this is the next step in the space program and that studies indicate that crews will remain for approx- imately three months in orbit. In addition, the space station will make travel to other planets and a return to the moon possible, according to Hoffman. Space exploration is also moving in a new direction according to Hoffman. Space Services, Inc., a Texas firm with former astronaut Donald Slayton as the vice chairman, hopes to be launching satellites for pri- vate industry by .1985. Their goal is to provide quick and inexpensive transportation for com- panies wanting to put up their own satellites. "There are a tremendous number of entrepreneurs involved in space," Hoffman says. "If a permanent presence is ever to be estab- lished in space, private enterprise must be in- terested. There's a guaran- tee of future space activity when people are convinced that there's a profit to be made in space. People are putting their money where Education Tax Rescinded . TEL AVIV (JTA) — The Romanian government has rescinded a recent law that required all persons emig- rating from Romania to repay the state for the higher education they had received at its expense, the Israeli newspaper Maariv reported. The tax affected mainly Jews immigrating to Israel, a large number of whom hold academic degrees. Romanians leaving for the United States and West Germany were also af- fected. All have now been relieved of that obligation following protests by the Is- raeli, U.S. and German gov- ernments to President Nicolai Ceausescu of Romania. A second ruling, accord- ing to Maariv, allows emigres to pay the export tax on personal possessions when they leave in Roma- nian currency instead of Comedienne Joan Rivers was born Joan Molinsky. dollars as previously re- quired. S 444 their dreams are." Dreams like these of the business entrepreneurs re- semble the ones that Jeffrey Hoffman has had since he was six years old. His sons, Samuel, 7, and Orin, 3, are very much aware that their father is an astronaut and have similar dreams to those of their father when he was their age. Samuel has already informed his father, "I would like to fly with you!" Maybe someday he will. the UE ORCHESTRA 345-7139 541-7651 You are Cordially Invited to a Reception honoring Leonard Schwartz Critically Acclaimed Sculptor and Artist Wednesday, July 6 7:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Main Building Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit Meet the Artist and view his exhibition of stone and bronze sculpture and painting. His works will be on display July 6-31 Purchase or Lease Vehicles or Equipment From DELTA Leasing and Purchasing "Best Rates 7 567-4600, 985-3033 Advantages Delta Offers 1. no capital investment 2. possible tax advantages 3. hedge against inflation 4. personalized service 5. guaranteed residual value /