There are 72 countries in the world that have space programs of some sort. However, only nine of those countries have the capability to launch rockets into space and deploy indigenously made satellites. One of them is Israel—and it is the smallest of this elite group.
Background
The Israel Space Agency (ISA; in Hebrew: סוכנות החלל הישראלית, Sokhnut heKhalal haYisraelit) was founded by theoretical physicist Professor Yuval Ne’eman in 1983 to replace the National Committee for Space Research, which was established in 1960 to set up the infrastructure required for space missions.
The decision to set up a space agency was made by Prime Minister Menachem Begin, Defense Minister Ariel Sharon, and former Director Aharon Beit Halahmi. In 1984 the National Space Knowledge Center was established in cooperation with Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI). IAI and the Ministry of Defense signed a contract to begin developing the required infrastructure to build Israel’s first observation satellite.
Vision
The vision of the ISA was defined in 2005 and states:
“Space research and exploration is an essential instrument for the defense of life on Earth; the lever for technological progress; the key to existing in a modern society; essential for developing an economy-based knowledge; and the central attraction for scientific and qualified human resources.”
The ISA’s main goals are to:
Build and support satellite systems for space research and for Earth research from space.
Develop technologies, knowledge, and scientific infrastructure (including laboratories and human resources) required for space research.
Promote international cooperation in space research and exploration, and for strengthening the national interests of Israel.
Promote ties between Israeli society, space research, and exploration.
The ISA has signed cooperation agreements with the space agencies of the United States, France, Canada, India, Italy, Germany, Ukraine, Russia, the Netherlands, and Brazil.
Satellites
The ISA’s satellite programs are designed for military reconnaissance and commercial purposes. Its first satellite, the Ofeq 1, was launched in 1988 from the Palmachim Airbase in Israel. That launch put Israel on track to become a significant player in the space arena today.
Israel uses five types of satellites, each one of which is part of a series.
Ofeq series
Ofeq satellites are used for reconnaissance. The last launch occurred in July 2020, marking the 16th in the Ofeq series.
Amos series
Amos satellites are primarily used for communications. The first was launched in May 1996 from the European Space Centre in French Guiana. Since then, seven satellites in this series have been built and five of them launched—the most recent in August 2019.
EROS series
EROS stands for Earth Resources Observation Satellite and constitutes a series of commercial observation satellites. The first EROS was launched in December 2005 from Svobodny Launch Complex in Russia. A second EROS satellite was launched in April 2006. The series are slated to be launched once every six to eight years.
TechSAR
The TechSAR satellite is a reconnaissance satellite with the capability to use radar that can penetrate thick clouds. TechSAR was launched in January 2008.
Rockets
Israel is one of only seven countries that can both build its own satellites and launch them on indigenously designed launchers. The Shavit is Israel’s space launch vehicle, capable of sending payloads into low-earth orbit. The Shavit has been used to launch every Ofeq to date.
The development of the Shavit began in 1983. Shavit launchers are low-cost and reliable. A triple-stage launcher, the Shavit is a solid propellant booster based on the 2-stage Jericho II ballistic missile. The next generation of Shavit rockets are called Shavit-2.
Interestingly, because of Israel’s hostile neighbors to its west, Israel aims its launches over the Mediterranean Sea to avoid its launchers and payload from falling into enemy territories or raining debris above populated areas. As a result, satellites launched from Israel orbit in the opposite direction of most satellites. A drawback is that Israel’s rockets lose about 30% of its lifting capabilities.
The fact that Israel can launch satellites into space also means it has intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities—something that should give its enemies pause, no matter how far they are from Israel.
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