In the Air Force, it has not yet been determined what role Lt. Col. Ilan Ramon will play upon his return to Israel after completing his mission in space. The commander of the Air Force, Major General Dan Halutz, said that Ramon will be a "center of knowledge" in the force on space issues
In the Air Force, it has not yet been determined what role Lt. Col. Ilan Ramon will play upon his return to Israel after completing his mission in space. The commander of the Air Force, Major General Dan Halutz, said that Ramon will be a "center of knowledge" in the force on space issues. Military sources added that an attempt will be made to keep Ramon in the Air Force, but it is not clear whether he will hold a position permanently or in the reserves.
Ramon, 49 years old, was in his last position head of the munitions department at the Air Force headquarters. In 96, he was about to be released from service, when he was offered by the Air Force to go to the USA for the mission at NASA. General Halutz said yesterday, in an interview with Channel 2, that Ramon's flight is Israel's "first and I hope not the last" step in space. Halutz added that space is "not foreign to Israel", due to the experience gained in launching unmanned vehicles (satellites). According to him, sending the astronaut into space is a "worthy and worthwhile effort" and has far-reaching consequences for Israel's progress in this field in the future. "I would be happy to exchange with him," the air force commander said of Ramon.
Amos Harel
First Israeli in space - a small step for Ramon, a big step for security
by Yitzhak ben Israel
The preoccupation with space serves as a modern expression of the tendency of the fathers of the state - as far back as its founding - to base Israel's security on scientific and technological superiority, in order to compensate for quantitative inferiority. The space allows Israel to adapt this concept to a state of peace - even if it is partial - with its neighbors.
Therefore, it is particularly important that the Israeli astronaut, Lt. Col. Ilan Ramon, is on the space shuttle - first and foremost, to run a scientific experiment. The main experiment will deal with the measurement of the dust clouds over the Middle East, in an attempt to build a computational model that will allow a better prediction of the weather - for scientific and security needs. The experiment was chosen by Mapat (the body responsible for research and development in the Ministry of Defense) in collaboration with the Israel Space Agency. The project was selected from among dozens of proposals by the Israeli Academy, and was approved by the American Space Agency, where it was tested according to strict scientific criteria.
The experiment demonstrates the combination between the Israeli scientific reputation and the security establishment, which financed the experiment. The connections established with the American Space Agency are an important basis for continued cooperation in vital technology areas.
The field of space is taking an increasingly central place in Israel's security concept. There are several reasons for this. First, the technology of ground missiles allows even a distant country like Iraq to hit Israeli cities. In such a situation, the Israeli ability to gather intelligence at great distances, to maintain contact with forces that will be forced to operate at such distances, and to receive warnings of surface-to-surface missile launches is of central importance. The solution to all of these is found in space: starting with photography satellites (which Israel already has), through communication satellites (which were also developed in Israel) and ending with warning satellites (which Israel does not have, but the connection is maintained through a direct connection to American satellites).
Second, Israel must prepare for a situation in which its ambitions for expanding the circle of integration with its neighbors will be fulfilled. In such an era, you will no longer be able to stand guard and receive warnings by the classic means (such as photo planes), because these require intrusion into the border and violation of the sovereignty of the neighboring countries. The use of space can therefore provide Israel with a "warning in a state of peace".
And thirdly, the development of Israel's space capability is a useful way to maintain its image of deterrence in the Middle East, without resorting to the old way of maintaining deterrence through the demonstrable use of military force. The capability in space is a "deterrent measure of peace".
The launch yesterday revealed for a moment the connection, usually hidden from view, between the defense establishment in Israel - its contribution to the development efforts of new technological areas in the direction and concentration of development efforts, and especially in financing - and the development of industry in Israel in general and the defense industry in particular, and all this with the assistance of the United States.
Beyond the scientific-security importance of the experiment, there is also the importance of the practical experience gained from the first instrument by an Israeli pilot-engineer. This experience will make it possible to expand Israel's involvement in space in the future. Even if this is initially done with American cooperation and support, the day will come when the newborn will stand on its feet and walk on its own.
Paraphrasing the words of the first man to walk on the moon, it can be said that Ramon's launch was a small step for him, but it is a big step for the renewal of Israel's security concept, and its entry into a new scientific-technological field.
Major General (Res.) Prof. Yitzhak Ben Israel, lecturer in security studies at Tel Aviv University. In the past, he served as the head of MPAAT (the division for research on the development of weapons and technological infrastructure in the Ministry of Defense)
Israel concentrates on the creation of satellites and their deployment
by Tamara Traubman
The Israeli Space Agency
The Ofek-1 satellite was launched in 1988
Archive photo
The Israel Space Agency was established in 1983 as a body operating under the Ministry of Science. The agency was established by Professor Yuval Naaman, who then served as Minister of Science in Menachem Begin's government.
The Israeli Space Agency's budget this year is about two million shekels, and it employs only two employees, the director, Avi Har-Evan, and a secretary.
The main role of the Israeli agency is to coordinate between different parties, develop research relationships, assist and support Israeli and international projects.
Israel's space program stands out mainly in the creation of satellites and their launch into space. Regardless of the space agency, several astrophysicists, astronomers and climate researchers work in the universities, some of whom are considered among the leaders in their field in the world.
Below are some of Israel's main entrepreneurs in space:
- The "Amos" communication satellite system - Amos-1 was the first Israeli communication satellite. Amos was developed by the aerospace industry, and is used for communication and television purposes. It was launched into space on May 16, 1996 by a French Ariane rocket.
- "Ofek" satellite program - the Aerospace Industry served as the main contractor for this program and was responsible for building a command and control center and a ground reception station for the satellite. The Aerospace Industry also operated these centers at the site of the Mbat plant in Yehud.
- As part of the program, three satellites were launched into space: Ofek-1, a satellite weighing 156 kg, which was an experimental satellite and was launched in September 1988 by an Israeli "Shavit" launcher. The satellite stayed in space for 118 days, during which it functioned successfully; Ofek-2 was launched in April 1990 for an improved thermal insulation satellite and improved protection from cosmic radiation, as well as an improved navigation system and a two-way communication system; Ofek-3 was launched in April 1995 by the "Comet" launcher. It was a "third generation" satellite, with the possibility of remote sensing. The satellite is still active in space.
- The Technion's satellite project - the satellite, "Texat" its name, is a small scientific satellite, built by students from the Technion, with the help of immigrant scientists from the Commonwealth of Nations. The Ministry of Science invested about 2.5 million dollars in this project. The satellite was launched into space in 1995, but the Russian launcher that launched it failed in its mission. Finally, in July 1998, another satellite was successfully launched, named "Gorwin-2-Texat". The satellite is still floating in space and some scientific experiments are being conducted on it. A camera manufactured by the Israeli company "Al-Op" is installed in the satellite.
Note - September 2009: After the disaster, these things take on a completely different meaning, but it is important to keep them so that we know in the future what could have been.
