13 minutes after the launch, the first contact was made with him
26.4.2006
By: Avi Blizovsky, Vetal Inbar (director of the Space and Satellite Forum in Tabuz)
Initial comments on the launch, 25/4/06 at 23:00 p.m
The Minister of Defense, Shaul Mofaz, noted following the successful launch that "the success of the launch is a tremendous achievement for the defense system, the defense industries and the State of Israel." The minister went on to point out that the satellite will increase Israel's ability to gather quality intelligence at large distances from the country's borders. "The State of Israel has proven once again that it relies first of all on itself to protect its citizens and is constantly working to improve its capabilities," he added.
First report 25/4/06 time 20:15 p.m
At 1945, the advanced observation satellite EROS B was launched from the Svobodeni space base, on a START 1 launcher. The satellite was built by the Mevt-Space company of the aerospace industry, the telescope in it was built by El Op, and it is operated by the ISI company (Imagesat International ). It is not yet known how he acted when he entered the orbit. In any case, it will take the satellite about a week to reach full operational status.
The first suit over Israel is expected to be around 02:00 and then it will be possible to take pictures of it. 13 minutes after launch, telemetry signals from the satellite were received at a commercial station in Sweden that provides telemetry services to satellite launchers.
The news agencies claim that it will be used to spy on Iraq's nuclear facilities. Officially it is a civilian satellite but with dual use (civilian and military). In a lecture at the "Future of the Israeli Space Program" event held on February 15 in collaboration with the Science website and the Hamada Center, the chief scientist at Al Op, Dr. Gabi Sarosi, said that the satellite will be able to observe details over 70 centimeters in diameter.
The Russian Interfax news agency said that the satellite launched from the Svobodny Cosmodrome in the Amur region of Russia is an observation satellite capable of monitoring the entire planet, and not necessarily individual countries, said Anatoly Koplik, a Russian expert on unmanned space flights.
The satellite was placed in a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 511-542 kilometers at an inclination of 97.3 degrees. From this height he sees the whole planet. The answer was given in response to reports by Western reporters that this is an intelligence satellite designed to monitor what is happening in Iran. "The satellite can also be used for surveillance in Russia or Egypt," Kopik said.
Tal Inbar's report from an event held in honor of the launch at the space center of the aerospace industry:
Hundreds of people gathered this evening in one of the buildings of the Mabat-Halal factory of the aerospace industry, to participate in the launching into space of the Eros B satellite. The heads of the Israeli space program, the people of the industries partnering with the project, led by the people of the Mabat-Halal company of the aerospace industry, Al-Op (Bonet Hemated), The heads of the company ImageSat International (owners and operators of the satellite) and other guests shared this evening in the rare and pleasant experience of launching an Israeli satellite into space.
In the corners of the hall were placed full-scale models of satellites produced by the aerospace industry, including an Ofek series satellite and a transparent model of the Techsar satellite. Those present were given an exhaustive overview of the Eros satellite program and an explanation of the launch procedures, from the manager of the Amos 3 program in Mbat.
The launch was carried out using a Russian satellite launcher of the Start 1 type (based on the SS-25 ballistic missile), from the Russian military space base Svobodny, in eastern Siberia.
At exactly the designated time, 19:47, the missile was launched. In the event, a live video broadcast was not possible, but only an audio broadcast. We heard the voice of the Israeli launch managers at the launch site, and we closely followed the data - the launcher took off! First stage separation! Second stage ignition! And so on, until the confirmation of the separation of the satellite from the last stage.
13 nerve-racking minutes passed until a northern control station confirmed that the satellite was in orbit, and at once the indicators on the screen lit up green - the systems are working! Some of the signs slowly turned blue - went into normal operation!
The indication on the layout of the solar panels has arrived, and with it the indication on charging the batteries. Several parameters remain to be tested - until the satellite's next pass over the northern station, and later during the night also over Israel.
After several laps over the station it is possible to verify that the satellite is working perfectly. We continue to check a number of other systems until the inspection of the photographic equipment on Friday morning.
ImageSat's Eros B photography satellite has arrived at the launch site
6.4.2006
By: Avi Blizovsky
ImageSat yesterday, April 5.4.06, XNUMX, transferred the Eros B photography satellite to the launch site in Siberia.
The satellite, manufactured by the Aerospace Industry, on which a camera manufactured by Al-Op is mounted, has a very high resolution (70 cm) and joins the Eros A satellite, which has been providing services worldwide since 2000. The launch of Eros B is expected to take place at the end of April using the Russian rocket. START 1. Eros B is a lightweight satellite (290 kg), with high maneuverability and designed to provide high-quality services for a period of 8-10 years.
Shimon Eckhaus CEO of ImageSat: "We intend to complete all the preparations for the launch on time and start as soon as possible to provide quality services to our customers." As I recall, ImageSat successfully raised bonds in the last month in the amount of approximately NIS 150 million in order to carry out this launch.
The photography satellite operator ImageSat raised NIS 160 million by issuing bonds
The proceeds of the issue will be used to launch the EROS B satellite in April 2006 with an investment of 100 million dollars. To guarantee the bond, the company processed the cash flows of two contracts for 80 million dinars
24.3.2006
In early March 2006, Imagesat successfully completed the private placement for institutional investors of bonds backed by cash flows that are rated A2 by the Midrog company (equivalent to the A rating of the Maalot rating company).
The offering gathered demands of NIS 300 million, and in view of these demands, the company decided to increase the amount of funding from NIS 140 to 160 million. The issue was managed by Poalim A.B.I.
ImageSat, which is one of the 4 providers of high-resolution photography satellite services in the world, issued two types of bonds to be repaid by 2013, that is, for an average life of 4.5 years in the metric track and the dollar track. The interest rate in the index track was set at 6.2% compared to a maximum interest rate of 6.7% and the interest rate in the dollar track, which is a variable interest rate according to the 3-month Labor interest rate, was set at an increase of 2.7% above the 3-month Labor interest rate compared to the maximum margin of 3% on which the bond was offered for institutional
ImageSat is controlled by IAI (41.7%), Al-Op from Elbit Systems Group (12.4%), Pegasus Foundation (9.9%) and Core Software Technologies (9.5%).
The company, managed by Shimon Ekhuiz, currently operates the Earth Remote Observation Satellite (Eros A) which was launched and has been operating since December 2000. The company is expected to launch the Eros b satellite in April 2006 with an investment of 100 million dollars. Both satellites were manufactured by the Aerospace Industry.
ImageSat provides satellite photography services for security uses of espionage, control of illegal immigration borders and internal security for air forces, sea forces, land forces, as well as for civilian uses such as environmental monitoring, disaster control, agricultural planning and mapping.
Imjasat will issue to institutional entities bonds rated by Midrog with a rating of A2. The company will pledge the cash flows resulting from 2 contracts in the amount of 80 million dollars to guarantee the repayment of the principal and interest payments of the bonds.
The scope of the first contract until 2013 - apparently with a country in Asia - is 101 million dollars and 56 million dollars remain. The second contract until 2008 - for a defense arm - with a financial scope of 60 million dollars and 24.4 million dollars remaining. The total financial scope of the long-term service contracts of Imagesat amounts to 200 million dollars.
