An Israeli commercial observation satellite was successfully launched into orbit by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Station, California, on Friday.
The EROS C-3 satellite, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and operated by Israeli private intelligence firm ImageSat International, will provide “high resolution imagery” and will be used for “government and commercial applications”, he said. a statement.
The “multispectral” space camera, developed by the Israeli company Elbit, allows the satellite to take color pictures.
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“After launch, the satellite positioned itself in its intended orbit around the Earth and began transmitting data to the ground station,” the IAI said in its statement.
“Israel Aerospace Industries engineers began a series of calibrations and tests to validate the satellite’s performance and finalize the tests prior to full deployment,” he added.
According to SpaceX, the reusable segment of the first stage of its Falcon 9 rocket successfully landed on its launch pad eight minutes after liftoff.
It was the last launch into orbit of 2022 by billionaire Elon Musk’s company.
Amir Peretz in Jerusalem, May 18, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
IAI President Amir Peretz called the launch “further evidence of the company’s technological leadership as a pioneer in space, as well as other areas.” »
“The results that the satellite launched today will transmit to the ground station will help the IAI to continue improving its capabilities in these areas. »
“Today’s launch of the EROS-C3 satellite is further proof of the world-class technological capabilities of Israel Aerospace Industries, the space arm of the State of Israel,” said Israel CEO, IAI, Boaz Levy.
IAI develops and manufactures state-of-the-art systems for cybersecurity, air, space, maritime, land and national security. Since 1953, the company has provided technology solutions to public and private customers around the world, including satellites, missiles, weapons and munitions systems, unmanned and robotic systems, and radar.
ImageSat International CEO Noam Segal also welcomed the launch, saying it was a “significant milestone” for the company, “one that will drive business growth”.
The Israeli Defense Ministry had already outsourced ISI imagery in the early 2000s, after the failed launch of the Ofek-4 military satellite.
EROS satellites are generally presented as being developed based on Ofek military reconnaissance satellite technology.
The Israeli army currently operates the Ofek-16 spy satellite, launched in 2020, whose mission is expected to last five years.
See the Falcon 9 launch the @ImageSatIntl EROS C-3 mission in orbit → https://t.co/bJFjLCiTbK https://t.co/QrFoqOAdYA
—SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 30, 2022
Emanuel Fabian contributed to this article.