Security reached was tight today at Florida's Cape Canaveral as Nasa prepared to blast Israel's first astronaut into space.
Space shuttle Columbiawas due to take off for a scientific research mission with Mr Ilan Ramon on board - a colonel in the Israeli air force and a former fighter pilot.
As is usual for every shuttle lift-off since September 11th, 2001, the US air force patrolled Nasa's launch site on the look-out for any stray planes or other intruders.
The no-fly zone extended the usual 35 miles but took effect three hours earlier to accommodate the loading of explosive hydrogen fuel into Columbia. Offshore, boats were ordered to stay away.
One of the primary experiments is sponsored by Israel's space agency: onboard cameras will measure desert dust in the atmosphere to gauge the effect on climate change.
An assortment of animals is also on board Columbia, mostly from student researchers. The menagerie includes spiders, ants, silkworms, mealworms, carpenter bees, fish embryos and rats.
AFP