Ofeq-9
Israeli reconnaissance satellite
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ofeq-9, also known as Ofek 9 ("Horizon in Hebrew), is part of the Ofeq family of reconnaissance satellites designed and built by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for the Israeli Ministry of Defense.
| Names | Ofek-9 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Optical reconnaissance |
| Operator | Israeli Ministry of Defence / Tsahal |
| COSPAR ID | 2010-031A |
| SATCAT no. | 36608 |
| Mission duration | 5 years (planned) [1] 15 years, 9 months and 20 days (in progress) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Ofeq-9 |
| Bus | OPSAT-2000[2] |
| Manufacturer | Israel Aerospace Industries |
| Launch mass | 297 kg (655 lb) |
| Dimensions | 2.3 m in height 1.2 m in diameter Span: 3.6 m on orbit [3] |
| Power | 400 watts |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 22 June 2010, 19:00 UTC[4] |
| Rocket | Shavit 2 (No.8) |
| Launch site | Palmachim Air Base |
| Contractor | Israel Aerospace Industries |
| Entered service | 25 June 2010 [3] |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit[5] |
| Regime | Low Earth orbit (Retrograde orbit) |
| Perigee altitude | 466 km (290 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 567 km (352 mi) |
| Inclination | 141.74° |
| Period | 94.81 minutes |
Launch
It was launched on 22 June 2010, at 19:00 UTC, from Palmachim Air Baise in Israel. It was delivered using an improved version of the Shavit launcher.
Mission
The payload is believed to be the multi-spectral "Jupiter" space camera produced by El-Op.[6][7][8][9] While precise imaging capabilities remain classified, sources say that like the still operating Ofeq-5 and Ofeq-7, Ofeq-9 offers a resolution "much better than" a half-meter.[7] The satellite was also said to be able to detect objects being carried by people.[10] The satellite operates in a retrograde low Earth orbit.[11]
