Israel is neglecting the civilian space program, which also has economic significance
Two threads connect the disaster of the space shuttle "Columbia" and the crash of the Israeli intelligence satellite "Ofek 6". Apparently there is no connection between civilian activity in space (Ilan Ramon's flight and the scientific experiments he performed) and Israel's defense space program. Only apparently: the threads connecting these two ends of Israel's activity in space are vision and money.
There is no disputing that the investment required in the construction and design of Israel's space infrastructure is huge. Various estimates speak of at least 1.5 billion dollars. Everything related to space programs costs a lot of money - the innovative technologies, the skilled manpower, and also the failures along the way. The vision is that of a few, who fared to see into the future in the early 80s of the twentieth century - people of science and technology, people of security and academia. They are the ones who laid the scientific-technological infrastructure that made Israel in 1988 the eighth member of the prestigious club of countries capable of building a satellite and launching it independently.
Since the launch of the first satellite, various satellites have joined it - intelligence, research and communication satellites. With the launch of an Israeli astronaut into space in 2003, Israel raised the bar and announced to the world that it has a deep commitment to space activity. Ramon's flight ended in tragedy, but the expressions of identification and sympathy from all levels of the public showed that the general public supports the presence of Israel (and an Israeli) in space. It was possible to leverage these feelings to support the economic aspect of Israeli space activities as well. Unfortunately, the tremendous support and public identification with Israel's activities in space was not used by the decision makers to promote civilian activities in space, and the budget of the Israel Space Agency remained shrunken. In the budget proposal for the next fiscal year, there is almost no trace of him. It is understood that with a meager budget it is not possible to maintain a real civilian space activity and also investments in space education (as a lever to raise student achievements in science and mathematics) are not possible.
The launch failure of the "Horizon 6" intelligence satellite received a huge response in the media and experts competed among themselves who could better explain to the public why it is essential for Israel to invest huge sums in its defense space program. Israel's independence in building its space force - both satellites and launchers - is a central pillar of Israel's security concept of the last decade, and since the State of Israel bought it an independent hold on space, the possibility of losing this ability today seems like a nightmare.
But simultaneously with the preservation and development of the military capabilities in space, the State of Israel must design for itself a solid civilian space program, consisting of a vision, a sustainable budget and a commitment to Ilan Ramon's legacy. The required investment in the civilian program, and in a significant increase in the Israeli Space Agency's budget, is a fraction of a percent of the cost of an intelligence satellite. However, even the small sums (currently 25 shekels per year for each citizen are allocated to the Israeli Space Agency) required to increase the scope of the Space Agency's activities are needed by it - and by the State of Israel - like oxygen for breathing.
Strengthening the position of the Israel Space Agency as a leading body, initiator, and financier of educational programs, scientific projects, research and international cooperation - is a necessity. The result of this move is the improvement of the level of achievement of Israeli students, the training of technological personnel, the creation of many jobs - and the training of the next generation of visionaries and practitioners in the fields of science and technology.
At the beginning of the 21st century, the picture is clear - investments in the civilian field of space pay off in the long term also economically, by converting production technologies to other fields, creating new businesses and selling space equipment and services to foreign countries. An investment in the civilian space program is an investment in the future of the State of Israel. It is to be hoped that the decision makers, in the Knesset and the government, will have the vision and the money to shape this future.
The writer is the vice president of the Israel Space Association and one of the regular writers on the knowledge website. The article was published this morning in "Haaretz"
