[FPSPACE] the future of Israel's space programme

[agzak at optonline.net]

Keith:

For many countries it is politically and strategically important to preserve their space capabilities, even though it might look more economical in the short term to outsource these activities to others. Israel might not be an exception. If they already have to pay for a ballistic missile development program to defend themselves, it probably worth relatively small additional expense to have an operational launch vehicle, launch site and some limited space program. 

Anatoly Zak
http://www.russianspaceweb.com


----- Original Message -----
From: Keith Gottschalk <kgottschalk at uwc.ac.za>
Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2008 9:37 am
Subject: [FPSPACE] the future of Israel's space programme
To: Friends & Partners FPSPACE <fpspace at friends-partners.org>

>       Until 2007 Israel was the only space player that had to launch
> westwards into orbit. so suffering a 5 - 10% payload penalty.
> 
>      But in January 2008 India launched a military reconnaissance
> satellite for Israel, called TecSAR, with synthetic apature radar. In
> April 2008 Sea Launch sent 1.3 tonne Amos 3 comsat into GSO. 
> Presumablythis is also for military communications, but could well 
> become dual
> purpose with some civil radio too.
> 
>    With such space diplomatic breakthroughs, presumably Israel will
> never again launch a satellite from Palmachim AFB or anywhere else in
> Israel itself? 
> 
>     From now on it can launch heavier payloads eastwards via its
> allies. And of course it does not have to develop a cluster of 
> three of
> its Shavit 28 ton rockets together for bigger payloads when, it can
> contract Zenit & PSLV or a GSLV to launch  far heavier payloads.
> 
> Keith
>