Ofeq 16
| Ofeq 16 | |
|---|---|
| Type: | Military reconnaissance satellite |
| Country: |
 Israel
|
| Operator: | Israel Defense Forces |
| COSPAR-ID : | 2020-044A |
| Mission dates | |
| Begin: | July 6, 2020, 01:00 UTC |
| Starting place: | Palmachim Air Force Base |
| Launcher: | Shavit 2 |
| Status: | in orbit |
| Orbit data | |
| Orbit inclination : | probably about 143 ° |
Ofeq 16 ( Hebrew for Horizon 16 ) is a military reconnaissance satellite operated by the Israel Defense Ministry . Like all other satellites in the Ofeq Group , it was built by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in conjunction with the Department of Defense's space division, while the optical components come from Elbit Systems . It was launched on July 6, 2020 and started operations a little later.
After the launch of Ofeq 11 in September 2016, no further launch attempts by Israel were observed. It is unclear why 11 is followed by 16. Numbers 12, 13, 14 and 15 may have been assigned to satellites that are still being launched.
Development and start
The Ofeq 16 mission was the eleventh known orbital launch in Israel and the ninth to have its payload entered orbit. The launch took place on July 6, 2020 at 4:00 a.m. local time (01:00 UTC ) from the Palmachim Air Force Base on the Israeli coast, from which all Israeli orbital launches have been carried out up to then. Since Israel's only coast is in the west and flying over neighboring countries is to be avoided, the Shavit missile flew west and aimed at a seldom practiced retrograde orbit. The launch was Israel's first launch since September 2016 with the Ofeq 11 satellite as a payload. The satellite data transmission began on schedule after the start.
According to NASASpaceflight.com, the launch of Ofeq 16 "received little attention from the international community," in contrast to the near-timed launch of the Iranian military satellites. In terms of security policy, the start with Israel was seen, the tensions with Iran and the situation in Syria . Amos Yadlin , former head of the Israeli military intelligence service Aman , wrote that Ofeq 16 gives Israel special strategic and intelligence capabilities. This is particularly significant “in these days when a possible escalation with Iran is emerging”.
Skills
As is common with military satellites , the exact capabilities of the Ofeq 16 are not publicly known. Like its predecessors, the Ofeq 16 is equipped with electro-optical sensors that provide the Israeli Defense Ministry with high-resolution images of the earth. According to media reports, the imaging sensors have a resolution of 0.5 meters. Ofeq 16 is built on the IMPS-2 platform, three-axis stabilized and equipped with two solar panels for power supply.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Stephen Clark: Israel successfully places surveillance satellite into orbit. Spaceflight Now, July 6, 2020, accessed July 9, 2020 .
- ↑ a b Anna Ahronheim: Israel's Defense Ministry receives first images from Ofek 16 satellite. Jerusalem Post, July 14, 2020, accessed July 16, 2020 .
- ^ A b c d William Graham: Israel conducts surprise launch with Ofek 16 satellite. In: NASASpaceFlight.com. July 6, 2020, accessed on July 8, 2020 .
- ↑ Israel brought new Ofek 16 spy satellite into space - derStandard.de. Retrieved July 8, 2020 (Austrian German).
- ^ Ofek 16: Israel launches new spy satellite. Retrieved July 8, 2020 .
- ↑ David Todd: Shavit rocket launches Israeli Ofeq 16 reconnaissance satellite. July 6, 2020, accessed on July 8, 2020 .