The eight Tavel student satellites were successfully launched and began sending signals

Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Orit Farkash HaCohen: The Tevel program promotes the students' scientific and technological knowledge and arouses curiosity and inspiration to engage in the field. It is one of the exciting programs of the Ministry of Science and the Space Agency in that it connects people and nations, and makes social change." * Uri Oron, CEO of the Israel Space Agency: "Earth satellites are further evidence of the technological ability of Israeli students and the ability of space to connect the sectors"

Eight satellites that were designed, developed and built by students from around the country of the Israel Space Agency at the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, were launched yesterday, January 13, then the launch at Cape Canaveral in Florida at 17:30 aboard the FALCON launcher of the SPACEX company About an hour and a half after the launch, the eight satellites separated from the launcher and successfully entered their planned orbit.

It was later reported that the science center in Herzliya, whose control room is used for communication with all the satellites, because they all gave a sign of life on the first pass, even though they were at a low angle above the horizon.

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Orit Farkash HaCohen: "The Israel Space Agency's TBL program in my office, in which students from 8 different authorities, Jews and Arabs, built satellites to be launched into space is an experiential and practical experience in designing and building a satellite, advancing the students' scientific and technological knowledge and arouses curiosity and inspiration to engage in the field. It is one of the exciting programs of the Ministry of Science and the Space Agency in that it connects people and nations, and makes social change."

Brigadier General (Ret.) Uri Oron, Director General of the Israel Space Agency: "The Tel Aviv program is a groundbreaking scientific educational program at the world level. For the first time, high school students from eight different authorities simultaneously built and launched 8 satellites. The program established and financed by the Israel Space Agency in the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology was managed and carried out by the Science Center in Herzliya with great skill. Satellites is an inspiring project and is a testament to the technological ability of Israeli students, and the ability of space to connect all sectors - Jewish, Arab, religious and secular, from all over the country. The graduates of the program, their family members and all the pedagogical bodies that accompany them achieved a most impressive achievement. We all realized that space has the potential to connect, initiate, achieve and succeed. This is the first milestone in the program, but in light of its success, I know that more programs will follow."

At 17:30 p.m. Israel time, the Earth satellites separated from the launcher and in the evening, a few hours later, the first transmission from the satellite is expected to be received by the control room at the centers: Yeruhem, Herzliya, Shaar HaNegev - and prove in fact that the satellite is not only launched into space, but also lives in space.

The Tavel, Students Build Satellites project was initiated and led by the Israel Space Agency at the Ministry of Science and Technology in cooperation with the Herzliya Science Center, who professionally accompanied the groups and this is the first time in the world that 8 satellites built by students are simultaneously launched into space.

8 teams of male and female students from middle schools across the country participated in the project, 8 local authorities, from the social and geographic periphery, from the secular, religious and non-Jewish sectors, 8 authorities representing the entire Israeli social mosaic: Shaar Hanegev, Ofakim, Yeruham, Taiba, Nazareth, Ma'ale Adumim, Givat Shmuel and Kiryat Ata. 

In each of the authorities, the students, along with the development and construction of the satellite, established a suitable infrastructure: a clean room for the construction of the satellite, for integration activities and testing the satellites. Communication stations that will enable tracking of satellites, receiving telemetry and scientific data.

For more, see an interview conducted by the Hadaan site with Sharon Mashal, coordinator of the space field at the Herzliya Science Center In preparation for the launch.