Ofeq

Ofeq (Hebrew אופק for Horizon ) is the name of an Israeli satellite series. All missiles were launched in retrograde orbits with Shavit rockets from the rocket launch site from Palm Achim. These cost more fuel, but offer the local advantage that burned out rocket stages rather than in the Mediterranean fall on populated areas.

Ofeq 1, which was launched on 19 September 1988, had a weight of 155 kg and orbited the Earth in an orbit with a perigee of 249 kilometers and an apogee of 1149 kilometers on a to 142.9 degrees inclined orbit. He led mainly by solar cells and radio transmission tests.

Launched April 3, 1990 Ofeq 2 orbited the earth on a to 143.2 degrees inclined track with a perigee of 149 kilometers and an apogee of 251 kilometers. Ofeq 2 led by communication tests.

Another satellite of Ofeq series, which was launched on 15 September 1994, should have been a failure.

The satellites from Ofeq 3 (Start: April 5, 1995) were all reconnaissance satellites.

Ofeq 4 was launched on 22 January 1998, but did not get into orbit.

On 28 May 2002 launched Ofeq 5, a reconnaissance satellite with a Shavit rocket from Palm Achim. The 300- pound Ofeq 5 orbits the Earth on a path inclined to 143.5 degrees with a perigee of 262 kilometers and an apogee of 774 kilometers, the perigee was raised in the course of the mission at 369 km and lowered its apogee to 771 kilometers.

On 6 September 2004, the start of reconnaissance satellites Ofeq 6 failed.

Ofeq 7 was launched 10 June 2007 with a Shavit -2 rocket from Palm Achim out. It weighs 300 kg and is to take pictures of 600 km altitude with a resolution of 0.7 m from the ground.

Ofeq 9 was launched on 22 June 2010. The perigee of the orbit is about 320 km and the apogee 580 km at an inclination of 141.8 °. The 300- kg and 2.1 m high satellite shall operate optical reconnaissance in the area between 40 ° North and 40 ° South and supplies of 500 km altitude images with a resolution of at least 70 cm.