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Israel Launches Spy Satellite: Good Or Bad?

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In January 2008, newspaper headlines saying, “Israel Launches Spy Satellite”, were met with mixed responses around the world.

Israel launched an advanced spy satellite that will be able to track events in Iran, the country it considers its top foe, even at night and in cloudy weather, defense officials said.

The TECSAR satellite is of particular importance for Israel because it can be used to keep tabs on Iran’s nuclear program, which the U.S. and Israel fear is a cover for pursuing nuclear weapons, they said.

Israel believes newly-orbited Ofeq-7 satellite can track people and weapons in any targeted country, including Iran.

Israeli officials said Ofeq-7 contained a reconnaissance platform that could spot bottles on the floor.

They said the camera payload could identify and send high-resolution images of items as small as 40 centimeters.

The satellite includes an advanced imaging system based on synthetic aperture radar, or SAR, technology.

The satellite, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries, operates with a special radar system, allowing it to view much more than existing Ofek satellites that use cameras.

Ofeq-7 was launched into low-earth orbit on Monday, Middle East Newsline reported.

The satellite, built by the state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries for the Defense Ministry, was said to contain enhancements to improve imagery.

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Israel Launches Spy Satellite

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Why Israel Launches Spy Satellite

Israel has backed U.S. efforts to get the international community to intensify sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear program.

Iran insists its program is for power generation. The company confirmed the satellite launching in a statement.

“The TECSAR is the first satellite of its kind developed in Israel, and ranks among the world’s most advanced space systems”, the statement said.

We have a new camera that is as good as anything available, and that includes the United States,” an official said.

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One of Many

Ofeq-7 joins Ofeq-5, launched in 2002 to monitor such Israeli adversaries as Iran and Syria.

Officials said the two military spy satellites would be enhanced by the dual-use commercial Eros-A and B satellites, based on the Ofeq design.

The development and launching cost tens of millions of dollars, the officials said. Within two weeks it will be possible to view pictures from the device, the officials said.

Israeli and Indian experts cooperated to launch the satellite with an Indian rocket from southeastern India, IAI said.

Officials said Ofeq-7 was launched by IAI’s Shavit three-stage solid-fuel satellite launch vehicle to an elliptical orbit that ranged from 300 to 600 kilometers in altitude.

The satellite cost tens of millions of dollars. It is supposed to be operational for only four years.

The question must be asked that if Israel can spend this kind of money and effort on a short-term project, do they really need the assistance of the U.S.?

Does this launch do anything to help ease tensions in the Mid-east?

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