Israel succesfully launched the military spy satellite Ofek 7, early Monday. In the wake of the Iranian nuclear threat and a possible war with Syria this summer, the satellite will enhance Israel's defense capabilities, officials said.
The satellite was launched on the back of a Shavit rocket from the Palmahim air force base, and will replace the Ofek 5 satellite. Yitzhak Nissan , CEO of the Israel Aircraft Industries said the new satellite will enhance the defense establishment's capabilities. According to officials it will take several days to test the satellite's systems.
Weighing 300 kilograms, the Ofek 7 will orbit earth from up to 600 kilometers in space. It has a four-year lifespan and will communicate its images via downlink with an IAI-run ground station.
In 2004, Israel failed to successfully launch the Ofek 6, which plummeted to the sea in its third boost stage. At the time, despite the disappointment, the Defense Ministry continued ahead with its development of the Ofek 7.
According to defense officials, the Ofek 7 is the most advanced satellite launched by Israel and is superior to the Eros B satellite - launched in April 2006 - which has the ability to spot images on the ground as small as 70 centimeters.
The satellites have a four year span. The Ofek 5 satellite was launched in May 2002, and reportedly travels over Iran, Syria and Iraq evcery 90 minutes.06/11/07
Margot Dudkevitch
Infolive.tv
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