Ofeq
Spacecraft · Israel
Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.
Israeli indigenous satellite series. Launching organization: Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd (IAI) and Israeli Space Agency (ISA). Function of first Ofeqs: 1) Experimentation in generation of solar power; 2) Experimentation in transmission reception from space; 3) Verification of system's ability to withstand vacuum and weightless conditions; 4) Data collection on space environment conditions and Earth's magnetic field. Later models provided military optical and electronic reconnaissance services.
Subtopics
Ofeq 1-2 Israeli technology satellite. Ofeq, meaning 'Horizon', was a technology demonstration satellite developed by IAI (Israel Aircraft Industries) for ISA (Israel Space Agency). Technology satellite built by IAI, MBT for ISA, Israel. Launched 1988 - 1990. Used Ofeq-1 Bus.
Ofeq 3 Israeli military surveillance satellite. Ofeq 3 was Israel's second-generation imaging surveillance satellite. Reconnaissance, optical satellite built by IAI for Tsahal, Israel. Launched 1995 - 1998. Used OPSAT-1000 Bus.
Ofeq 5 Israeli military surveillance satellite. Ofeq-5 was said to be about 33% heavier than its predecessors. Reconnaissance, optical satellite built by IAI for Tsahal, Israel. Launched 2002-2010. Used OPSAT-2000 Bus.
Related
Chronology
8 events
1988 September 19
09:32 GMT - . Launch Site: Palmachim. LV Family: Jericho. Launch Vehicle: Shaviyt.- Ofeq-1 - .
Mass: 155 kg (341 lb). Nation: Israel.
Agency: ISA.
Program: Ofeq.
Class: Technology.
Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: Ofeq 1-2.
Decay Date: 1989-01-14 . USAF Sat Cat: 19519 . COSPAR: 1988-087A. Apogee: 1,149 km (713 mi). Perigee: 250 km (150 mi). Inclination: 142.90 deg. Period: 98.80 min.
First Israeli launch; possibly experimental surveillance mission. Experimental satellite 'Offeq-1'. Launch time 0934 GMT. Location: site on the coast south of Tel-Aviv. Launching organization: Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd (IAI) and Israeli Space Agency (ISA). Function: 1) Experimentation in generation of solar power; 2) Experimentation in transmission reception from space; 3) Verification of system's ability to withstand vacuum and weightless conditions; 4) Data collection on space environment conditions and Earth's magnetic field.
1990 April 3
12:02 GMT - . Launch Site: Palmachim. LV Family: Jericho. Launch Vehicle: Shaviyt.- Ofeq-2 - . Mass: 160 kg (350 lb). Nation: Israel. Agency: ISA. Program: Ofeq. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: Ofeq 1-2. Decay Date: 1990-07-09 . USAF Sat Cat: 20540 . COSPAR: 1990-027A. Apogee: 251 km (155 mi). Perigee: 149 km (92 mi). Inclination: 143.20 deg. Period: 88.50 min. Communication experiments. .
1995 April 5
11:16 GMT - . Launch Site: Palmachim. LV Family: Jericho. Launch Vehicle: Shaviyt 1.- Ofeq-3 - . Mass: 189 kg (416 lb). Nation: Israel. Agency: ISA. Program: Ofeq. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft: Ofeq 3. Decay Date: 2000-10-24 . USAF Sat Cat: 23549 . COSPAR: 1995-018A. Apogee: 694 km (431 mi). Perigee: 366 km (227 mi). Inclination: 143.40 deg. Period: 94.50 min.
1998 January 22
12:56 GMT - . Launch Site: Palmachim. LV Family: Jericho. Launch Vehicle: Shaviyt 1. FAILURE: Launch vehicle failed during second stage burn.. Failed Stage: 2.- Ofeq-4 - . Mass: 189 kg (416 lb). Nation: Israel. Agency: ISA. Manufacturer: IAI. Program: Ofeq. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft: Ofeq 3. Fell in Mediterranean Sea..
2002 May 28
15:25 GMT - . Launch Site: Palmachim. LV Family: Jericho. Launch Vehicle: Shaviyt 1.- Ofeq-5 - .
Mass: 300 kg (660 lb). Nation: Israel.
Agency: Tsahal.
Manufacturer: IAI.
Program: Ofeq.
Class: Surveillance.
Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft: Ofeq 5.
USAF Sat Cat: 27434 . COSPAR: 2002-025A. Apogee: 757 km (470 mi). Perigee: 370 km (220 mi). Inclination: 143.50 deg. Period: 95.90 min.
Military Observation satellite. Return to flight of the Shavit booster following a lauanch failure. Launch delayed from third quarter 2001. The three-stage Shavit rocket took off from Palmachim Air Force Base on the Israeli coast and flew westward to put the satellite in a retrograde orbit. The AUS-51 third stage solid motor entered a 262 x 774 km x 143.5 deg orbit and separated from the Ofeq satellite. Both coasted up to apogee at around 1620 UTC when Ofeq made a burn to increase its velocity by 33 m/s, raising the orbit to 369 x 771 km x 143.5 deg.
2004 September 6
Launch Site: Palmachim. LV Family: Jericho. Launch Vehicle: Shaviyt 1. FAILURE: Third stage orientation failure at 270 seconds into the flight. Failed Stage: 3.- Ofeq-6 - . Mass: 300 kg (660 lb). Nation: Israel. Agency: Tsahal. Manufacturer: IAI. Program: Ofeq. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft: Ofeq 5. Military observation satellite failed to reach orbit. Finanical loss estimated by Israeli press as $ 100 million..
2007 June 10
23:40 GMT - . Launch Site: Palmachim. LV Family: Jericho. Launch Vehicle: Shaviyt 1.- Ofeq-7 - . Mass: 300 kg (660 lb). Nation: Israel. Agency: Tsahal. Manufacturer: IAI. Program: Ofeq. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft: Ofeq 5. USAF Sat Cat: 31601 . COSPAR: 2007-025A. Apogee: 576 km (357 mi). Perigee: 340 km (210 mi). Inclination: 141.80 deg. Period: 93.80 min. Israeli optical reconnaisance satellite, evidently using an improved version of the Shavit booster and probably heavier and more capable than its predecessors..
2010 June 22
19:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Palmachim. LV Family: Jericho. Launch Vehicle: Shaviyt 1.- Ofeq 9 - . Mass: 189 kg (416 lb). Nation: Israel. Agency: ISA. Program: Ofeq. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft: Ofeq 5. USAF Sat Cat: 36608 . COSPAR: 2010-031A. Apogee: 586 km (364 mi). Perigee: 400 km (240 mi). Inclination: 141.80 deg. Period: 94.50 min. Israeli optical surveillance satellite..