Pasban
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2010
- Messages
- 771
- Reaction score
- 0
OFEQ-9 will spy on Iran
Israel boosts space presence: The defense establishment launched another spy satellite to space Tuesday evening, thereby boosting Israel's intelligence-gatherings capabilities, mostly at distant theaters.
The latest satellite, Ofek 9, will be the sixth one to be deployed simultaneously.
"When we wish to examine targets, we need our own satellites to do the job," a senior defense official said. "The new satellite will enable us to perform frequent activity at higher resolution."
The satellite was launched from the Palmachim Air Force base in central Israel, in line with a pre-determined plan unrelated to recent developments, officials said.
The Defense Ministry issued an official statement, saying that the Ofek 9 satellite "was launched and successfully injected into orbit by means of a Shavit satellite launcher."
"In the next phase, the satellite will undergo several tests for validation of its serviceability and satisfactory performance," the statement said, noting that Ofek 9 is an "advanced technology remote sensing satellite."
Officials want another $300 million
Defense Minister Ehud Barak praised Israel's defense industries and security establishment officials following the launch.
"The launch today is a technological and operational achievement; few states, especially states the size of Israel, are capable of handling such a complex challenge," he said. "The success of the launch is an expression of the valor, thinking, and extensive abilities of the defense industries and security establishment in Israel.
A security source said that the launch of Ofek 9 further boosts Israel's intelligence capabilities, as the Jewish State now has several satellites deployed in space, thereby considerably improving the results of its efforts.
Previous Israeli satellites were launched in January 2008, in June 2007, and in May 2002. In September 2004, the launched of Ofek 6 failed.
The new satellite is expected to join Israeli efforts related to Iran and other states in the region. Despite the Israeli success on this front, officials prefer to maintain a low key attitude and not say much about the accomplishments achieved thus far.
However, officials are supporting a proposal to earmark another $300 million in the next five years in order to continue developing similar means.
By June 25, officials said they should be able to validate the operational capability of the 300-kilogram Ofeq-9 satellite and its subsystems and begin receiving the first pictures from its high-resolution sensor.
"We delivered it perfectly, but we're still waiting to hear the baby's screams," said Chaim Eshed, the MoD's director for space programs.
Ofeq-9 is a "twin brother" of the Shavit-launched Ofeq-7 and Ofeq-5, the former operational since June 2007 and the later since June 2002. A launch failure in September 2004 caused the loss of Israel's planned Ofeq-6 satellite. TecSAR, the country's synthetic aperture radar satellite launched from an Indian rocket in January 2008, now occupies the Ofeq-8 slot in the MoD lineup.
As of 11 p.m. Israel time on June 22, officials here were waiting for the Ofeq-9 to make its first pass over Israel.
"Right now, it's giving a pulse, and we assume it has opened its solar panels, but our inspection and validation must wait for it to pass over Israel," a program official said. "Right now, all I can say is the injection was very nominal and very precise. The first stage, second stage and third stage separation of the satellite from the launcher performed as planned."
Ofeq-9 will operate in a constellation with the two other Ofeqs currently in orbit. While precise imaging capabilities remain classified, sources here say all three offer resolutions "much better than" a half-meter.
Israel Aerospace Industries is prime contractor for the Ofeq satellites and the Shavit launcher, while Elbit Systems' Elop produces the satellite's high-resolution imaging camera.
Israel boosts space presence: The defense establishment launched another spy satellite to space Tuesday evening, thereby boosting Israel's intelligence-gatherings capabilities, mostly at distant theaters.
The latest satellite, Ofek 9, will be the sixth one to be deployed simultaneously.
"When we wish to examine targets, we need our own satellites to do the job," a senior defense official said. "The new satellite will enable us to perform frequent activity at higher resolution."
The satellite was launched from the Palmachim Air Force base in central Israel, in line with a pre-determined plan unrelated to recent developments, officials said.
The Defense Ministry issued an official statement, saying that the Ofek 9 satellite "was launched and successfully injected into orbit by means of a Shavit satellite launcher."
"In the next phase, the satellite will undergo several tests for validation of its serviceability and satisfactory performance," the statement said, noting that Ofek 9 is an "advanced technology remote sensing satellite."
Officials want another $300 million
Defense Minister Ehud Barak praised Israel's defense industries and security establishment officials following the launch.
"The launch today is a technological and operational achievement; few states, especially states the size of Israel, are capable of handling such a complex challenge," he said. "The success of the launch is an expression of the valor, thinking, and extensive abilities of the defense industries and security establishment in Israel.
A security source said that the launch of Ofek 9 further boosts Israel's intelligence capabilities, as the Jewish State now has several satellites deployed in space, thereby considerably improving the results of its efforts.
Previous Israeli satellites were launched in January 2008, in June 2007, and in May 2002. In September 2004, the launched of Ofek 6 failed.
The new satellite is expected to join Israeli efforts related to Iran and other states in the region. Despite the Israeli success on this front, officials prefer to maintain a low key attitude and not say much about the accomplishments achieved thus far.
However, officials are supporting a proposal to earmark another $300 million in the next five years in order to continue developing similar means.
By June 25, officials said they should be able to validate the operational capability of the 300-kilogram Ofeq-9 satellite and its subsystems and begin receiving the first pictures from its high-resolution sensor.
"We delivered it perfectly, but we're still waiting to hear the baby's screams," said Chaim Eshed, the MoD's director for space programs.
Ofeq-9 is a "twin brother" of the Shavit-launched Ofeq-7 and Ofeq-5, the former operational since June 2007 and the later since June 2002. A launch failure in September 2004 caused the loss of Israel's planned Ofeq-6 satellite. TecSAR, the country's synthetic aperture radar satellite launched from an Indian rocket in January 2008, now occupies the Ofeq-8 slot in the MoD lineup.
As of 11 p.m. Israel time on June 22, officials here were waiting for the Ofeq-9 to make its first pass over Israel.
"Right now, it's giving a pulse, and we assume it has opened its solar panels, but our inspection and validation must wait for it to pass over Israel," a program official said. "Right now, all I can say is the injection was very nominal and very precise. The first stage, second stage and third stage separation of the satellite from the launcher performed as planned."
Ofeq-9 will operate in a constellation with the two other Ofeqs currently in orbit. While precise imaging capabilities remain classified, sources here say all three offer resolutions "much better than" a half-meter.
Israel Aerospace Industries is prime contractor for the Ofeq satellites and the Shavit launcher, while Elbit Systems' Elop produces the satellite's high-resolution imaging camera.
