Two Israel Aerospace Industries satellites were successfully launched into space on Wednesday from Kourou, French Guiana. The two earth-observation satellites are OPTSAT-3000, to be used by Italy's Ministry of Defense as a reconnaissance satellite, and Venμs, which will help the Israeli and French space agencies study the environment. Both were launched using a Vega rocket, manufactured by the European satellite launch company Arianespace. According to Arianespace, OPTSAT-3000 "comprises a high-resolution optical satellite and a ground segment for in-orbit control, mission planning and the acquisition and processing of images" and "will allow national defense entities to acquire and use high-resolution images from any part of the globe." Venμs, which is an acronym for Vegetation and Environment monitoring on a New Micro Satellite, was assembled by the Israel Aerospace Industries in collaboration with CNES, France's space agency. Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems produced the satellite's innovative electric propulsion system, and defense electronics contractor Elbit Systems provided advanced high-resolution cameras that will enable the satellite to better monitor the earth's vegetation and any changes on the ground. Venμs weighs 265 kilograms (585 pounds) and can reach an altitude of 720 kilometers (447 miles). Venμs is Israel's first environmental research satellite. The importance of environmental research satellites has increased in recent years in light of concern for overpopulation, the increased scarcity of arable land, desertification, natural disasters, pollution and other issues. Venμs will photograph 110 specific sites across the world every two days for two-and-a-half years, charting the impact of climate change on ecosystems and agriculture as well as studying carbon stocks and plant evolution. Imagery from Venμs will be relayed to a research center at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, which is used by the Science, Technology and Space Ministry to implement various projects. Professor Arnon Karnieli, who will lead the task force analyzing the imagery said the data will help "save costs and protect land and groundwater from excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides ." "We are proud to be at the forefront of the space technology and take part in the Venµs scientific mission," IAI President and CEO Joseph Weiss said in a statement. "This is very exciting for the Israeli space industry and the State of Israel as a whole and the IAI will continue to be Israel's leading agency on observation satellites. I hope the government will know how to maintain our productive work in the field of communication satellites as well." Science, Technology and Space Minister Ofir Akunis said the launch "underscores once again Israel's great capabilities." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also congratulated those involved in the projects, saying that "Israel is at the cutting edge of technology and space."
2 innovative Israeli-made satellites launched into space
Environmental research satellite Venus, an Israeli-French collaboration, to help combat desertification • Second satellite OPTSAT-3000 to be used by Italian Defense Ministry for reconnaissance • PM: Israel is at the cutting edge of technology and space.
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