Following launching of Ofek-7 into space, officials say more advanced satellites will be launched in coming years

©Defense Ministry
Ofek-7 being launched


The Ofek-7 spy satellite that was successfully launched into space Monday morning is expected to significantly help Israeli intelligence by relaying high-resolution information on the countries of the region. Israel's Space Agency officials said that more advanced satellites would be launched by 2010.

Head of the Space Agency, Prof Yitzhak Ben-Yisrael, told Ynet that the satellite's performance would be evaluated according to three central parameters: Weight, life span, and the photographs' resolution.

Ben-Yisreal preferred not to provide more information on the satellite's resolution, but said that it was better than 70 centimeters.

Regarding the life span, he said, "Our previous satellites lived for about six years, Ofek-5 has already been five years in space and is still expected to live a few more years."

Ben-Yisrael said that the satellite's light weight, about 300 kilograms, was very unique. "Satellites with such abilities usually weigh a few tons, and its weight is a huge advantage."

Why satellites are launched eastward

Tal Inbar, deputy director of the Fisher Brothers Institute for Air and Space Strategic Studies, explained that the main reason why Israel started manufacturing light-weight satellites was because it did not want to launch satellites eastward, in the direction of the Earth's movement. "We don't want such a launching to be misinterpreted by mistake as an attack on the region's countries.

"There is also the safety issue: We don't want to have damage caused to different elements on the ground, and furthermore, if the satellite crashes on enemy soil, even its pieces could teach them something about our capabilities in the field of satellites."

According to Inbar, the launching of another satellite into space improved Israel's ability to collect more pictures in shorter time periods.

"Israel needs satellite footage for intelligence purposes. The main difference between a satellite and a plane, is that when a plane flies over a country it in fact violates its airspace. Space, on the other hand, is free of sovereignty. International law regulates this, and every country has the right to send satellites into space and photograph the ground without it being considered a violation."