JERUSALEM – Israel’s
capacity to keep tabs on Iran was boosted Wednesday night after the successful
launch into space of its 10th and most advanced satellite to date.
The satellite, which
Israelis call Ofek 10 (Ofek meaning horizon in Hebrew), entered into orbit
around the Earth in the early hours of Thursday morning and immediately started
transmitting signals back, according to information shared by Israel’s Ministry
of Defense and Israel Aerospace Industries.
A video of the launch as
well as animation of the satellite in orbit can be seen below:
The Ofek 10 will be used
for military purposes, Israel's Defense
Minister Moshe Ya’alon has said, including monitoring Iran’s
suspected nuclear weapons development and that country’s involvement in
supporting militant groups in neighboring Arab countries.
Following the launch,
Ya'alon said the venture was "further testimony to Israel's impressive
ability to develop and lead at the forefront of technology.”
He added that Ofek 10 would
improve Israel's “intelligence capabilities and allow the defense establishment
to better deal with threats both close and far, all hours of the day and in all
weather conditions. We continue to increase the vast qualitative and
technological advantage over our neighbors."
Just last month during a
visit to Washington, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated to both
President Obama and to U.S. Jewish leaders his warnings about Iran’s desire to
obtain nuclear weapons and what it would mean if they were successful. “Letting the worst terrorist regime on the planet get atomic bombs would
endanger everyone, and it certainly would endanger Israel since Iran openly
calls for our destruction,” Netanyahu told U.S. Jews
gathered at the
American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) annual conference.
This is the seventh Israeli
satellite in orbit — Israel launched its previous incarnation, Ofek 9, in
June 2010. The new Ofek is an remote-sensing observation satellite that
employs synthetic aperture radar technology with advanced high-resolution
imagery, capable of operating day or night and in all weather conditions.
