[FPSPACE] First Israeli-built SAR satellite slated to be launched...by India this week

[pjp]

>From the Jerusalem Post.(photo also included in original)

 

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1189411441975
<http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1189411441975&pagename=JPost%2FJ
PArticle%2FShowFull> &pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

 

 

Sep 19, 2007 21:46 | Updated Sep 20, 2007 3:02 
Israel to launch spy satellite in India
By YAAKOV KATZ AND <mailto:editors at jpost.com>  GREER FAY CASHMAN 


 

Israeli space capabilities will take a giant leap this week when an Indian
missile launches the IDF's most-advanced satellite to date, capable of
transmitting tiny images in all weather conditions. 

The takeoff from India follow's June launch of the Ofek-7 spy satellite. The
satellite to be placed in orbit this week is called Tecsar and was developed
and manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries. It will be the first
Israeli satellite with Synthetic Aperture Radar capabilities, allowing the
camera to take pictures of targets under cloudy and foggy conditions, a
capability not available in Israel's Ofek satellite series. 

Weighing just under 300 kilograms, the Tecsar, was developed by the IAI's
Space Division MBT. The Ofek 7 is a camera-based satellite while Tecsar is
capable of creating high-resolution images using advanced radar technology.
The Synthetic Aperture Radar technology was developed by IAI's Elta
subsidiary. 

This will be the first time that Israel is launching a satellite aboard an
Indian missile. The decision to launch the missile from India was reached
three years ago during a visit there by then-Defense ministry
director-general Amos Yaron. 

While declining to reveal the new satellite's performance levels, officials
said it would be Israel's most advanced satellite by far. In addition to the
Ofek 7 and Eros B, and the Amos 1 and 2 (both communication satellites),
Israel currently operates the Ofek 5 spy satellite, launched in May 2002.
IAI plans to launch the Amos 3 in the coming months. 

"Israel has technological defense capability of the first order," President
Shimon Peres said on Wednesday after visiting Elta, a division of Israel
Aerospace Industries, which Peres helped to found in 1953, when he was
director-general of the Defense Ministry. 

At the tail-end of a daylong visit to Ashdod as a guest of Mayor Zvi Zilker,
Peres was afforded a closed door inspection of state-of-the-art equipment at
Elta. 

IAI employs around 25,000 people. Peres said its contribution to both
national security and to the economy were inestimable. Elta's sales so far
this year are in excess of $3 billion. 

Peres said that he would like every Israeli to know "that we have the best
and most talented people in the world and we should be proud of their
wonderful abilities." 

While hailing the quality of Israel's defense capabilities, Peres made it
clear that the Jewish state was interested in peace, not war. 

Earlier in the day, when meeting with school children, religious and secular
authorities and other residents of the city, Peres recalled having first
come there with David Ben-Gurion, when there was little else but sand. 

Today, Ashdod is a thriving city with a population of around 225,000
representing the ingathering of the exiles, Peres said.