From Modest Beginnings to a Vibrant State Out of This World: Israel’s Space Program New Frontiers WEB RESOURCES: Israel Space Agency: Current and Future Programs Israel Space Written by Professor M.G. (Ret.) M.K. Isaac Ben-Israel – Israel Space Agency, Chairman and Dr Zvi Kaplan – Israel Space Agency, Director General Ministry of Science, Culture & Sport Agency: www.most.gov.il/ english/units/science/ The debut of “Ofek-1” the first Israeli satellite on of Science, Culture & Sport and charged it with the israel+space+agency September 19, 1988, is a landmark for the beginning of coordination of the nation’s space program. The emphasis Ministry of the Israeli “Space Age.” This happened approximately continues to be on building a broad space infrastructure, Science, Culture 30 years after the beginning of the world’s Space Age and following the Ofek and its Shavit launcher, a diverse and Sport: – the launch of Sputnik 1. Nevertheless, a posteriori, scope of activities was established both for defense led www.most.gov.il/english the Israeli Space Program was viewed as a tremendous by Israel MOD and for civilian applications under the success. A small country joined the exclusive club of leadership of ISA. seven space “superpowers.” Israel was skilled enough BELOW: The launch of the communication & to achieve a status of a world leader in the important The creation and the advancement of the Israel’s space science satellite niche of small but highly sophisticated space platforms, industry was a natural outgrowth of the defense industrial OFFEQ 5. exhibiting outstanding performances. infrastructure. Later on, private initiatives were established At present, the State of Israel is standing at a watershed. to develop space components In order to leverage the already acquired achievements, and space-based services. The it should be pursuing space technologies and space industry’s prime contractor systems to further improve its position in three important and system house is the Israel dimensions: Strengthening its strategic defense status, Aircraft Industries. Other elevating the level of excellence of its society and increasing Industries such as “El Op” its economical growth. and “Rafael” are producing important core technologies Historical Notes: and main sub-systems, and Israel’s space program began with university-based research in the third circle, there are in the early 1960s. The Israel Academy of Sciences and additional medium and small Humanities formally established the National Committee companies creating jointly a for Space Research in 1963. The growth, in scope and fully indigenous capability. israel depth, of related research activities led to the creation of a strong academic community that fostered a new generation ’ The Present Status S of scientists and engineers. Israel’s space activities are space highly focused on High- Next, at the beginning of the 1980s, Israel set its sights Resolution-Imaging satellites program on developing the industrial and scientific infrastructure in Low Earth Orbits. The required for full-fledged membership in the “Space funding levels for Israel’s space GPO-ISRAEL NATIONAL PHOTO COLLECTION Community.” The government established the Israel program are relatively modest. IAI, © Space Agency in 1983 in affiliation to the Ministry Nevertheless, the program’s ➤ 99 ISRAEL AT 60 DR. ZVI KAPLAN LEFT TO RIGHT: EROS-B, TECSAR, & OPTSAT Satellites. (Since October 2004, Dr Kaplan has held the position of Director General of the Israel Space Agency. From 1977-through 2002, Dr. Kaplan worked at the Soreq Nuclear Research Center in Yavne Israel, achievements are among the most impressive of Israel’s The AMOS4 program was started in July 2007 and is where he worked in high-tech industries. On the basis of cost-to-performance planned to be launched by the end of 2011. AMOS4 will several research areas and weight-to-performance, there is no doubt that Israel’s be placed in a different location mainly to serve Africa and and major projects imaging satellites are among the best in the world. Asia. AMOS4 is a medium-class (up to 4.0 ton) Satellite. including: IAI/MBT-SPACE also provides the satellite owner • High Power At present there are five earth observation active satellites (SpaceCom) with control operations service. Laser development in orbit: and Pulsed Power technologies. Prospects for the Future • Lead the EROS A – operating as a commercial venture supplying Where are we going from here? The inventory of the state development of the imagery to the international market. To be followed by of Israel includes the following assets: Electro-Thermal Gun OFEQ 5, EROS B, OFEQ 7, (the second generation of Propulsion Technology Electro-Optical Remote-Sensing satellites), • Industrial infrastructure for space systems including in collaboration with communication satellites and earth observation satellites. the DOD and in the TecSAR – Launched in 2007, employing a state-of-the- • Unique know-how in the domain of small systems of Framework of the art Synthetic-Aperture-Radar payload. It will enable 200-400 kg. “Star Wars”. night images and penetration through clouds. • High quality and gifted scientific manpower with • In 1987 he founded a world reputation for its research in space exploration The Electric Propulsion In the coming years (under development and construction) astronomy and our planet. Laboratory at Soreq, the next generation of satellites will include: • A modern advanced society with the ability and which he headed until willingness to consume space products and services (global 1994. • In 1992 Dr Kaplan OPTSAT – 3rd a new generation of high-resolution communication, media etc.) and a growing modern economy initiated a project in Electro-Optical remote-sensing satellites. based on electronics and computation expertise. Electric Propulsion for Space application VENUS – A Joint Israel/France Multi-spectral We have an unparalleled opportunity to utilize these by adoption of the Mission, to monitor vegetation and coasts (water quality). existing assets to establish an aggressive space program Electric Hall Thruster Partners: ISA – Israel Space Agency and CNES the that will bring the state of Israel the following benefits: Technology. ity space agency of France. V • From 1994-1996, • Improve the economy. Each 1 percent increased share Dr Kaplan was in The State of Israel has been engaged with Communication of the global world revenues would result in a $1.5 billion charge at Soreq for Satellites since the early ’90s. Since then two satellites increase in sales. Therefore, based on this projection, a creati promoting business were launched to a geosynchronous orbit, AMOS1 world’s share of 3 to 4 percent seems practical. to entrepreneurships was launched in mid 1996 and AMOS2 was launched • Increase the status of the Israeli space affiliated of various plasma technologies at an late in 2003. The AMOS1 and AMOS2 are providing sciences. incubator technology communication services to the Middle-East, Central- • Contribute to the survival of our planet and to the facility, affiliated with Europe and the East Coast of the United States. AMOS3 quality of life on it. creation the Center. was launched in April 2008 (see article), to replace • Stop the worrying phenomenon of the brain drain from M • In 1997 he was AMOS1. The AMOS1, 2, 3 series is of small-class (up Israel because of the lack of challenges and adequate jobs ISRAEL SPACE AGENCY fro nominated as the to 1.5 ton) satellites. for young professionals © 100 From Modest Beginnings to a Vibrant State Director General of the • Increase bilateral and multi-lateral collaborations former Science Minister, was tasked by Menachem Begin 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 image taken from space because in one image He joined the own satellites and are capable of launching them.