10/04/2014 - Israel has successfully launched a new satellite "Ofek 10" to improve its low-orbit space surveillance capabilities. This is what we learn from The Jerusalem Post who cited a source from the Israeli Ministry of Defense.

L'Ofek 10 It was launched from the Palmahim air base, south of Tel-Aviv.

The satellite, as it happened for the other carriers of the family Ofek, was put into a rocket orbit Shavit, successor to the Jericho II, which performed a retrograde orbit beyond the Mediterranean Sea. The latter is common practice, to preserve the integrity of the cargo from possible attacks brought by hostile nations to Israel.

The satellite is able to take photographs at any time and in any weather condition. For surveillance and reconnaissance from space, Israel has six satellites.

- Ofek (Hebrew word that stands for "horizon"), have been developed by the Israel Aircraft Industries. According to what is learned from the Israeli press, the main purpose of the satellites put into orbit is to spy on Iran that with its nuclear program is seen as the number one enemy and the main threat to the security of Tel Aviv.

- Ofek, as well as the satellites that operate in the Low Earth Orbit (low earth orbit) have a period of revolution of about 90 minutes, with an average speed of 27400 km / h.

In addition to the coverage formed by the Ofek, from the 2008 Israel has also in orbit the Polaris (TecSar), a spy satellite equipped with synthetic aperture radar and with a resolution of 10 centimeters.

Franco Iacch

(photo: IAI)