Israel has successfully launched the “Ofek-13” spy satellite into space. The Ofek-13 satellite, manufactured by state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). It is the latest in a series of domestically produced satellites that were first put into orbit in 1988.
The Shavit launch vehicle launched the satellite into space from Palmachim Airbase spaceport at 2:10 am on Wednesday.
Immediately after launch, the satellite successfully entered orbit, started transmitting data and completed an initial series of tests according to the original launch plans.
Israel launched its first satellite, Ofek-1, in 1988. It was seven years later in 1995 that Israel began launching a reconnaissance satellite into space capable of taking pictures of the Earth.
