Launched this evening using a "Shavit" missile manufactured by the Aerospace Industry, from the air force base in the center of the country; The satellite was launched towards the sea, in order to prevent harm to residents, especially in enemy countries, if the launch were to fail

From: "Haaretz" service
Launch of the previous Israeli satellite Ofek 3 (Walla archive)
The Ofek 5 launch vehicle from the Glatz site
Missile specifications (CNN website)
For more: Yidan Israel in space
The Israeli spy satellite "Ofek" 5 is launched in the afternoon from Palmahim Beach,
using the "Shavit" missile. The satellite was launched around 16:30 and now
Waiting to see if he enters his route as planned. (Note, at 00:05
On May 29, about seven and a half hours after the launch, the Geltz website reported that the satellite
He managed to reach his intended route.
The satellite will take the place of Ofek 3, which finished its duty and burned up
in space, after more than five years of full function. "Ofek" 5 is planned
operate in space for eight years.
"Ofek" 5 is considered, like its predecessor, to be a lightweight satellite that will orbit the Earth
At a low altitude - between 400 and 600 km. The satellite is developed and manufactured at the Mbat factory
Owned by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The Shavit missile is developed and manufactured
In the MLM factory of the TAA. The main equipment carried by Ofek 5 is a camera
Telescopic made by "Alup", owned by Elbit Systems.
The main test of the satellite launch depends on the "Shavit" rocket. According to publications
Foreigners, the missile is based on the Jericho surface-to-surface missile. Because of sensitivity
The systems installed on the satellite and because of its missions, it was decided that it would be launched
will be carried out in Israel on top of an Israeli launcher. Due to the geographical limitations
The satellite is launched from east to west, in the opposite direction to the earth's rotation, to
that in the event of a malfunction the equipment will fall into the sea and not into the territory of an enemy country. Dispatch
Such is a greater technological challenge for planners.
The AP news agency reports:
Israel launched the Ofek 5 satellite, the spokesman for the Ministry of Defense stated that this was the case
Israel's observation capability, which had been missing for about a year, was restored. eyewitnesses
See the missile cross the clear sky over the Mediterranean coast, when
leaving behind a stream of white smoke that quickly disappeared.
The spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, Jordan Vetikai, confirmed that the spy satellite was launched
From the launch facility at the Palmachim air force base on the seashore south of Tel
Spring. It is not yet known if the satellite actually reached its intended orbit.
The launch will give Israel the expanded ability to monitor military developments
in the region, as well as to present its advanced military capability, say the experts.
The Israeli media reported that the satellite was launched with a home-made Comet rocket
Israel, belonging to the Jericho surface-to-surface missile family. Foreign experts were cited
As they say that the Jericho missile can carry a nuclear warhead, but
The senior officials in Israel never agreed to comment on this.
The first intelligence satellite, Ofek 1 was launched in 1988 and was subsequently launched
Ofek 2 in 1990. The third satellite was put into orbit in 1995. The launch
The next was carried out in 1988, but the launch of the satellite, Ofek 4, failed.
The IDF tried to extend the life of the Ofek 3 satellite through savings
in electricity, and thus his life was extended from three years to almost six, but finally he
Burned up in the atmosphere about a year ago. The IDF does not agree to say when it happened.
Since then the IDF has used the private Eros satellite (which was also developed in Israel, and launched
by a private subsidiary company registered in the Netherlands of the aviation industry
the Israeli). Ofek 5, which will carry sophisticated cameras and sensors on board,
It was developed by Israeli companies and its route will be about 500 meters high
kilometers.
A stamp of the Israel Postal Authority on the Ofek 3 satellite
The Ofek 5 satellite is launched into space
Windows version
"I opened the window, and suddenly a huge missile passed by the window, Naor said,
Resident of Tel Aviv. Avihu Ben-Nun: There is no doubt that this is an extraordinary achievement
which affects our deterrence in Arab countries
Many residents of Gush Dan were amazed yesterday evening (Tuesday), when a missile passed not far away
of them. "I opened the window, and suddenly a huge missile passed me and it seemed to be right next to me
The window," said Naor, a resident of Tel Aviv.
The rocket the residents envisioned carried the Ofek 5 satellite into space. The satellite is launched
At 18:25 p.m. on top of a "Shavit" model missile, manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries,
From a site in the center of the country. The missile was launched towards the west so that in the event of a malfunction
its operators will be able to drop it into the sea. The launch to the west is considered more complicated
From a technological point of view, because it is the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of
Earth.
Around 20:00 the satellite enters a low orbit around the Earth
And later should circle the earth every hour and a half at an average height of
About 450 km. In the coming days the satellite will start sending pictures and then they will know
In the security system it is final if the launch was successful.
The spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defense announced that "with the placement of the satellite in orbit around a ball
Haaretz will undergo a series of tests to verify its integrity and level of performance.
The satellite has advanced technological capabilities, which allow it to be used in a variety of ways
national needs".
Defense Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer said that "launching the satellite is an achievement
Great for the Israeli security system and is technological progress
significant at the national level".
Cost: $60 million
The cost of building the new satellite is estimated at about 60 million dollars. "horizon
5, which is produced by the space division of the Aerospace Industry, will replace the
Ofek 3, which was launched into space in April 1995, ceased operation about a year and a half ago
"Ofek," 3 because the gas that allows it to fix its orbit in space has run out.
At the same time, the Ofek 4 satellite was developed, but the project failed, because
that during the launch a malfunction occurred, and the satellite fell into the sea. since discontinued
The Israeli intelligence community received photographs of the operation of "Ofek" 3
Through the civil satellite "Eros". This is a project managed by me
The Israeli "Imagesat" company, which works in collaboration with the industry
the aerial
"Ofek," 5 whose optical system was manufactured by the "Alup" company,
It will send photographs to the ground station, in which it will be possible to distinguish the bodies
Different. The exact capabilities of the Israeli satellite were not disclosed, however
Hazi Carmel, an Israeli expert on satellites, told Ynet: "Satellites
Americans today are able to photograph bodies with a size of 20 cm in resolution
Very good."
The former commander of the Air Force, Avihu Ben Nun, said yesterday that "the contribution of
The security satellite is clear and large. In both Iran and Iraq it is difficult to obtain
Intelligence in other ways. Such a satellite can provide both warning information and
Information about targets, although it has various limitations such as weather."
According to Ben Nun, "It is true that in recent years you can buy pictures
Satellites from other countries, but the resolution you can buy is not the best
Good, and it's hard to spot small targets. And another thing, thanks to a private satellite
You can shoot targets without others knowing about it."
Ben Nun emphasized that "a satellite of this type is not used for real-time intelligence,
Like a report on the launch of missiles from Iraq, but for long-range strategic intelligence
long." He states that "there is no doubt that this is an extraordinary achievement that affects
Our deterrence in the Arab countries, mainly thanks to the presentation of the technological capability
launch the missile and bring the satellite into its orbit, which is very difficult to do
In Israel, because it should be shot only to the west and not to the east as is customary, because of the direction of the earth's rotation."
https://www.hayadan.org.il/BuildaGate4/general2/data_card.php?Cat=~~~321166719~~~248&SiteName=hayadan