Israel Aerospace Industries' Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Satellite was Successfully Launched Into Orbit on an Indian PSLV Launcher
Jan 21, 2008
Itzhak Nissan, IAI's President & CEO said: "IAI's management is very proud of this achievement, which serves as additional proof of IAI's great technological capabilities, and of IAI's leadership in the Israeli space industry. First images are scheduled to be received after 14 days"
Management of Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) announced that an advanced imaging satellite produced by IAI, employing synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology, was successfully launched into orbit today (January 21, 2008, 05:45 Israel time) on an Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
The satellite, under the brand name TECSAR, was launched at the SHAR test field in southeast India in collaboration with a team of Indian and Israeli experts. The launch was carried out in accordance with a cooperation agreement between the Government of India and IAI relating to space activities.
The TECSAR's signal was received at the IAI ground station 80 minutes after launch (07:10 Israel time), immediately upon its reaching the station communication range. By all indications so far, the satellite is functioning properly.
The satellite is now orbiting the Earth, and IAI's engineers and scientists have commenced the prescribed series of in-orbit tests to verify its performance. Due to the complexity of the TECSAR, as compared to satellites previously produced by IAI, the in-orbit tests are scheduled to continue for several weeks, and the first images are scheduled for receipt 14 days after launch.
The TECSAR is the first satellite of its kind developed in Israel, and ranks among the world's most advanced space systems. It carries a SAR payload, designed to provide images during day, night and all weather conditions, including under cloud cover. The satellite is controlled and monitored by an IAI-based ground station.
This satellite was designed, built and integrated by IAI's scientists and engineers, with the MBT Space division acting as prime contractor and Elta Systems Ltd., an IAI subsidiary, provided the SAR payload. The project included contributions from other IAI divisions, as well as from leading Israeli hi-tech companies such as Rafael, Tadiran-Spectralink and Rokar.
The TECSAR joins an impressive list of satellites developed, produced and launched by IAI. As of today, 11 satellites from the Ofeq, EROS and Amos brands have been launched, including seven satellites currently in orbit. These successes contributed to IAI's recent award of a material contract to develop the Amos 4 communications satellite.
Itzhak Nissan, IAI's President & CEO said: "IAI's management is very proud of this achievement, which serves as additional proof of IAI's great technological and administrative capabilities, and of IAI's leadership in the Israeli space industry and other areas of advanced technology."
For further information, please contact:
Doron Suslik
Deputy Corporate Vice President for Communications
Tel: 972 (3) 935-8509
Fax: 972 (3) 935-8512
e-mail: hpaz@iai.co.il
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