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Home , Amos (satellite), AMOS (satellite bus), EROS (satellite), EROS A, Ilan Ramon, Israel Space Agency

IAI, © GPO- NATIONAL PHOTO COLLECTION Space Agency in 1983 in affiliation to the Ministry Ministry the to affiliation in 1983 in Agency Space Israel the established government The Community.” “Space the in membership full-fledged for required infrastructure and onscientific developing the industrial its ofsights Israel set the1980s, at thebeginning Next, generation new a engineers. and of scientists fostered that community academic strong led to ofthe creation ofactivities a depth, research related and scope in growth, The 1963. Committee in Research Space for National the established formally Humanities and Sciences of Academy Israel The 1960s. early the in research with university-based Israel’s space began program Notes: Historical growth. economical its the level ofof elevating and increasing its excellence society status, defense strategic its Strengthening dimensions: improve to its systems position in further important three space and technologies space pursuing be should it achievements, acquired already the leverage to order In watershed. a at standing is Israel of State the present, At performances. outstanding exhibiting platforms, space sophisticated highly but small of niche important the in leader world a of status a achieve to of enough club skilled was Israel exclusive “superpowers.” space the seven joined country small A success. tremendous a as viewed was Program Space Israeli the posteriori, a Nevertheless, 1. Sputnik of launch the – Age Space world’s the of beginning the after years 30 approximately happened This Age.” “Space Israeli the of beginning the for landmark a is 19, 1988, September on Israeli first the “Ofek-1” of debut The &Sport Culture Science, of Ministry General Director Agency, Space –Israel Kaplan Zvi Dr and Chairman Agency, Space –Israel Ben-Israel Isaac M.K. (Ret.) M.G. Professor by Written and Programs Current Future SpaceIsrael Agency: New Frontiers Israel’s Space Program Out of This World: eetees te program’s the Nevertheless, modest. relatively are program space Israel’s for levels funding The . Low in Resolution-Imaging High- on focused highly are activities space Israel’s Status The Present fully indigenous capability. capability. indigenous fully a jointly creating companies small and medium additional are there circle, third the in and sub-systems, main and technologies core important producing are “Rafael” and Op” “El as such Industries Other Industries. Aircraft Israel the is house system and contractor prime industry’s The services. space-based and components space develop to established were initiatives private on, Later infrastructure. industry was a outgrowth natural of the defense industrial space Israel’s the of advancement the and creation The of ISA. leadership the under applications civilian for and MOD Israel by led defense for both established was diverse a activities of scope launcher, Shavit its and Ofek the following and to continues be a on broad building space infrastructure, of coordination the nation’s The emphasis space program. the with it charged and Sport & Culture Science, of From Modest Beginnings to a Vibrant State State Vibrant a to Beginnings Modest From Below: Below: OFFEQ 5. OFFEQ satellite science & communication the www.most.gov.il/english Sport: and Culture Science, of Ministry israel+space+agency english/units/science/ www.most.gov.il/ Agency: Space Israel R WE ES B O The launch of of launch The URC Es :

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from creation to creativity ISRAEL nominated as the 1997 In was he • Center. the with affiliated facility, technology incubator an at technologies plasma various of entrepreneurships business promoting for Soreq at charge in was Kaplan Dr 1994-1996, From • Technology. Thruster Hall Electric the of by adoption application Space for Propulsion Electric in aproject initiated 1992 In Kaplan Dr • 1994. until headed he which Soreq, at Laboratory Propulsion The Electric 1987 In founded he • Wars”. “Star the of Framework the in and DOD the with collaboration in Technology Propulsion Gun Electro-Thermal the of development the Lead • technologies. Power Pulsed and development Laser Power High • including: projects major and areas research several in worked he where Yavne in Israel, Center Research Nuclear Soreq the at worked Dr. Kaplan 2002, 1977-throughFrom Agency. Space Israel the of General Director of position the held has Kaplan Dr 2004, October (Since Kaplan Zvi Dr. AT 60

to 1.5 ton) satellites. to 1.5 ton) satellites. (up small-class of is series 3 2, AMOS1, The AMOS1. replace to article), (see 2008 AMOS3 April in launched States. was United the of Coast East the and Central- Middle-East, the to services communication providing are AMOS2 and AMOS1 The 2003. in late launched was AMOS2 and 1996 mid in launched was AMOS1 , geosynchronous a to launched were satellites two then Since ’90s. early the since Satellites TheState of Israel haswith beenengaged Communication of . agency space the CNES and Agency Space Israel – ISA Partners: Mission, to and monitor (watercoasts vegetation quality). VENUS satellites. remote-sensing Electro-Optical OPTSAT include: will of satellites generation next the construction) and development (under years coming the In clouds. through penetration and images night enable will It payload. Synthetic-Aperture-Radar art TecSAR satellites), Remote-Sensing Electro-Optical of generation 7, (thesecond B, EROS 5, OFEQ by followed To be market. international the to imagery supplying venture commercial a as operating EROS– A satellites active orbit: in observation earth five are there present At world. the in best the among are satellites imaging and there is weight-to-performance, no doubt Israel’s that On the ofbasis high-tech industries. cost-to-performance Israel’s of impressive most the among are achievements le f t to right: right: t to – Launched in 2007, employing a state-of-the- a employing 2007, in Launched – – A Joint Israel/France Multi-spectral Multi-spectral Israel/France Joint A – – 3rd a new generation of high-resolution of generation new a 3rd – EROS-B, TECSAR, & OPTSAT Satellites. &OPTSAT TECSAR, EROS-B, Unique • satellites. observation earth and satellites communication () with control operations service. operations control (SpaceCom) with owner satellite the provides IAI/MBT-SPACE also (upis AMOS4 a Asia. medium-class to 4.0 ton) Satellite. and to serve mainly be in location placed a different by end the ofto be 2011.launched will planned AMOS4 is and 2007 July in started was program AMOS4 The Industrial • assets: following the includes of Israel Where are we going from here? Theinventory ofthe state P A • planet. our and astronomy exploration space in research its for reputation world a High • kg. 200-400 Increase • practical. seems of 3to 4percent world’s share a projection, this on based Therefore, sales. in increase a worldin $1.5 would of result global revenues the billion Improve • benefits: following the of Israel state the bring will that program space aggressive an establish to assets existing these utilize to opportunity unparalleled an have We economy modern growing expertise. computation a and on electronics based and etc.) media communication, towillingness consume space products and services (global Stop • on it. of life quality for young professionals young for jobs adequate and of challenges lack of the because Israel Contribute • sciences. rospects for the Future forthe rospects modern the quality

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© From Modest Beginnings to a Vibrant State

Director General of the • Increase bilateral and multi-lateral collaborations former Science Minister, was tasked by Soreq Nuclear Research with national and international space agencies, thereby with creating the Israel Space Agency. Center. He held that strengthening the status and the position of Israel in the office for 5 years. world scientific community. Within a decade, his team found themselves with an • Last but certainly not least, there are the defense-related industry. If they could produce military satellites, why Dr. Kaplan received his advantages both from the long-term strategic dimension not use the same technology to produce civilian satellites, PhD degree from and the immediate contribution to the effectiveness of our too? Currently, Israel has eight Amos communications The Weizmann military capabilities. ◆ and Eros reconnaissance satellites orbiting the earth at Institute of Science an altitude of 36,000 kilometers. in Plasma Physics.

Professor Isaac Ben-Israel, a Tel-Aviv University physicist Q&A with ISA and former director of research and development in the Defense Ministry, has been the agency’s chairman since Chairman 2005. He explains here why Israel is punching above its Professor Isaac Ben Israel weight and is looking to earn as much as $15 billion a Isaac Ben year in exports. Written by Eric Silver Israel (MK Kadima) is Q: Who Are Your Clients? Chairman if the Israel On-line maps, international mobile phone calls, satellite A: Google Earth, for one, is a big customer of satellites. Space Agency (since television, the battle to save the planet from global warming: There are four companies in the world which sell the kind 2005) and a member Israel’s 25-year-old space program is a pioneering force in of images it needs for its maps. Two are American, one is of the advisory council developing these digital marvels of the 21st century, far French. The other is Israeli. Google buys from all four. for the Israel Space beyond the country’s size, wealth and population. Then there are big cities. If you want to monitor what’s Agency (since 2002). going on, even to see if there is illegal building, it’s easier Israel is one of only seven countries that both build their to use an taken from space because in one image He joined the own satellites and are capable of launching them. More you can cover the whole city. And it doesn’t cost them academic staff of than 40 other countries buy from those seven. more than $10,000. University as a professor in 2002 and has been Israel recently launched its first-of-a-kind reconnaissance Q: What Makes Israel’s Space Research Different? head of the program satellite that uses advanced radar technology. Unlike A: We specialize in developing micro satellites weighing for security studies earlier models, fitted with conventional cameras, it doesn’t 300-400 kilograms. The should be very light. (since 2004) as well need light. It can send back high-definition images taken So should the mirrors, the lens, the electronics. We needed as head of Tel-Aviv at night or through clouds. satellites light enough to launch from Israel. Because of University Workshop the neighbors, we can only launch westwards, over the for Science Technology The satellite, known as TECSAR, was designed and built Mediterranean. Since the earth rotates in the opposite and Security (since by Israel Aerospace Industries. Only the United States and direction, you lose a lot of energy. So we put a lot of effort 2002). Prof. Ben Europeans have built anything similar, but theirs weigh into miniaturizing. The launch doesn’t cost so much, the sub- Israel teaches at ten times as much as the Israeli version. In space, smaller systems cost less. So we found ourselves with the capability the Cohen Institute is cheaper – and thus more competitive in a burgeoning of building sophisticated satellites that were relatively cheap. for the History & isra world market. And the world started to show an interest. Philosophy of Sciences and Ideas, heads the el’ Curiel Centre for s spac The Israeli space program was a byproduct of the 1979 Q: For example? International Studies peace treaty with Egypt. Spy planes could not fly over A: We are now building a satellite called Venus in and is a member e pr Sinai to make sure Egypt, now a friendly country, was cooperation with France. The whole satellite is built here in of Jaffe Centre for not moving missiles into the demilitarized peninsula. Spy Israel; the French participate in financing the project. They Strategic Studies o satellites were the answer. Israel didn’t want to rely on approached us because there is a growing need for such light between 2002-2004 gram anyone else to collect and convey the intelligence. So in satellites because of their cost. The French want to compete and was a member of 1983, Yuval Ne’eman, an eminent nuclear physicist and in bids being released by the . the board of directors ➤ 101 102

from creation to creativity ISRAEL A Ministry of Defense. of Ministry the in Directorate R&D Defense of Director as appointed and General Major to promoted 1998 was he (1991-1997). January In Defense of Ministry and Forces Defense Israel in R&D Military of Head the was and Intelligence, IAF of Division Assessment and Analysis Branch, Research Operations IAF the headed He IAF. the of units development weapon and intelligence operations, in posts several held he service, his During 2002). 30, (June retirement his until continuously (1967) served and school high graduating after (IAF) Force Air Israel the in served He Committees. Technology and Science the as well as Defense and Affairs Foreign the of amember Readiness, Front Home for Subcommittee the of Chairman is: Israel Ben Prof. , the In (2000-2002). Industries Aircraft Israel of on his way way his on Arens Moshe right: right: at , Airport, Gurion Ben at to a press conference conference a press to T 60 October 1, 1989. October Foreign Minister Minister Foreign like Israel. Still, we think it’s very important, because because important, very it’s think we Still, Israel. like state small a for big too it’s but ambition, an We have A: 2003? in re-entry on disintegrated Columbia who died theastronaut, when SpaceShuttle first Israel’s Ramon, Ilan following others see we Might field? that in ambitions have Israel Does flights. space manned of think we programs, space about think we When Q: We involved. to be education. intend right the universities, right the people, right the Wehave economy. our of source main the is High-tech market. the capabilities. the Thereis have no reason that why we shouldn’t have countries 5 few to the 10 of percent one of is Israel A: share? its win to placed year. Israel is How well to be is $150 worth estimated a satellites other billion and worldformarket communications Q: Thecivilian phenomena. these all predict can which model, the change or verify or build to order in measurements those use will scientists The pollution. monitoring for good is This water. the in chemicals the all identify and detect can which cameras, multi-spectral with sea the at look can You plants. affecting diseases certain andof photographs for identify take fields, can instance, You earth. the protecting for model right the develop to scientists help can They problems. environmental and warming global monitoring for source best the perhaps are Satellites pollution. and the monitoring environment satellite, scientific a be will It A: Venus do? will What Q: Eric Silver Eric by Written of Israel’s Space Program Creation the at Present Arens Moshe end. abetter with Ihope Ramons. Ilan more be will There us. than bigger someone with cooperation in it doing past, will the we in did we So as consider, too. space, manned need you this for And to young come scientists back to space Israel, is good. very attract and drain brain the fight to want you If young. the of imagination the ignites which something is space the space program was a waste of money.” awaste was program space the youback, won’t anybodyfind today whothat argue would looking But funds. the for use better had they though people army senior the of “some said, Arens Minister,” Defense was I “When unenthusiastic. were military the first at yet research, space for trigger the was Security States.” United the with developed has Israel which system, defense missile the with later theater in came Thatflight.” missiles of the intercepting possibility “Atattack. point,” “nobodythat said, Arens took seriously missile any for retaliate to able being missiles, outgoing on first at focused Israel development, missile its In friends.” bybest your even to you, available made always We not is purposes. information because capability independent wanted intelligence for satellite a of advantage the saw we way. were on our capability, wethe “Once had we Then possible. of the realm the within orbit came into satellite a launching point missiles, where it had ballistic developed the reached Israel Once missiles. ballistic with do to had to and Washington ambassador former recalled, politician retired the space, in involvement first Israel’s Technion, MIT. Israel’s years. 10 for the at matters on space-related taught he had that Industries Before Aircraft Israel the of engineer chief as served had who engineering aeronautical of professor a was Arens Agency. Space Israel the founded Begin Menachem Minister Prime when place right the in man in 1983, Minister As MosheDefense was Arens the right ◆ ◆

TZVIKA ISRAELI, © GPO-ISRAEL NATIONAL PHOTO COLLECTION