Israeli Space Agency
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Israeli Space Agency - ISA (Hebrew: סוכנות החלל הישראלית) is a governmental body, that coordinates all Israeli programs of Space Research with scientific and commercial purposes. The agency was founded in 1983. It is currently headed by Aluf professor Yitzhak Ben Yisrael.
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[edit] Vision
The agency vision as defined by the guiding committee in July 27, 2005 states:
"Space research and exploration is an essential instrument for the defense of life on Earth; the lever for technological progress; the key to existing in a modern society; essential for developing an economy based on knowledge; and the central attraction for scientific and qualified human resources."
The vision is "to preserve and broaden the comparative advantage of Israel and to place it among the group of leading countries in the space research and exploration area."
The main goals for vision realization are:
- To build and to support satellite systems for space research and for Earth research from space.
- To develop technologies, knowledge and scientific infrastructure (including laboratories and human resources) required for space research.
- To promote international cooperation in space research and exploration, and for strengthening the national interests of Israel.
- To promote ties between Israeli society, space research, and exploration.
ISA has signed cooperation agreements with the space agencies of: USA (NASA), France (CNES), Canada (CSA), India (ISRO), Germany (DLR), Ukraine (NSAU), Russia (RKA), Netherlands (NIVR) and Brazil (AEB).
[edit] History
In the 70's and 80's Israel developed the infrastructure needed for research and development in space exploration and sciences. This activity was marked with the development of satellites and launching facilities , and had the proclaimed goal of Israel entering the "club" of states with those abilities. In April 1983 the Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Yuval Ne'eman, announced the formation of an agency which could coordinate and supervise a national space program. In 1984 a National Space Knowledge Center was established in cooperation with Israel Aircraft Industries and a contract was signed between IAI and Ministry of Defence for the development of the needed infrastructure and of Israel's first observation satellite. This came to fruition in 1988 when Israel launched the first in a series of Ofek satellites and thus became one of only few nations in the world possessing an indigenous space launching capability (see timeline of first orbital launches by nationality). The project management at Israel Aircraft Industries was headed for many years by Dr. Moshe Bar-Lev.
[edit] Budget
The budget of the Israeli space agency is only about 1 million USD. This doesn't include funds allocated for the Venus Project (about 7 mlilion USD) and the 70 million USD allocated annually for the Israeli military program. Commercial programs are managed on different budgets.
[edit] Projects
[edit] Israeli Satellites
- Ofeq - Series of reconnaissance satellites. The first of these was launched from the Palmachim site on September 19, 1988.
- Amos - Series of communications satellites
- Eros - Series of observation satellites
- Techsat - Researching satellite launched by the Technion
- Sloshsat - microsatellite for investigation of dynamics of fluids in microgravity. In association with RAFAEL, Fokker Space laboratories, NIVR, NLR and others.
[edit] Satellites in development
- Venus - Development, assembly and launching of a scientific microsatellite for Earth research. In association with Israeli Government, IAI, Elbit Systems, RAFAEL and French space agency (CNES).
- TAUVEX - Production and launching of a space telescope in UV range for astronomical observation from the space. In association with Israeli Government, Elbit Systems, Indian space agency (ISRO).
- TechSAR - a SAR technology demonstrator satellite.
- OPsat - the new generation optical observation satellite.
[edit] Israeli Launchers
[edit] Israeli Astronauts
- Ilan Ramon was Israel's first astronaut. He was the space shuttle payload specialist of STS-107 (Columbia) who was killed when the craft disintegrated during reentry into the Earth's atmosphere.
