Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon comments on the mission after the crew's arrival for pre-launch preparations.

STS-107 Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon comments on the mission after the crew's arrival at KSC for pre-launch preparations. Ramon is the first Israeli astronaut to fly on a Shuttle mission. Standing behind him are (left to right) Commander Rick Husband, Pilot William "Willie" McCool, Mission Specialists David Brown and Kalpana Chawla, Payload Commander Michael Anderson and Mission Specialist Laurel Clark. STS-107 is a mission devoted to research and will include more than 80 experiments that will study Earth and space science, advanced technology development, and astronaut health and safety. The payload on Space Shuttle Columbia includes FREESTAR (Fast Reaction Experiments Enabling Science, Technology, Applications and Research) and the SHI Research Double Module (SHI/RDM), known as SPACEHAB. Experiments on the module range from material sciences to life sciences. Launch of Columbia is targeted for Jan. 16 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.