AAS 97-698
THE ISRAELI SPACE PROGRAM
M. Guelman - Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Technion, Israel
Abstract
Israel's entry into space dates back to 1988 when the experimental satellite Ofek-1 was lifted into Earth's orbit by a Shavit three stage launch vehicle. Ofek-1 was the first of a series of LEO remote sensing experimental satellites. In 1996, Israel's Amos telecommunications satellite was placed into geostationary orbit and is operational since then. In parallel to this R&D effort by Israel's aerospace industry the Technion developed and built the Techsat experimental microsatellite to be launched in 1997. Israel space research activities cover a wide spectrum, including space vehicles technologies like electric propulsion, star sensors, new navigation and guidance methods, as well as basic research in such diverse fields as biology, advanced materials and astrophysics. A description of major Israel activities in space will be presented.
Aerospace Engineering Department