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The Ofek-7 military spy satellite being launched into space from Palmahim air force base near Ashdod on Monday. (AP)
Last update - 15:41 11/06/2007
Israel successfully launches Ofek-7 military spy satellite
By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service and Agencies

Israel successfully launched the Ofek-7 military spy satellite from the Palmahim air force base early Monday morning.

According to Israel Radio, the satellite was successfully launched at 2:40A.M. The satellite, which was launched on a "Shavit" rocket, began orbiting the earth two hours later.

Yitzhak Nissan, CEO of the Israel Aircraft Industries, which developed the new satellite, said all of its systems are currently functioning properly. Shmuel Keren, head of the weapons and technological infrastructure development administration said Ofek-7 will improve the defense establishment's capabilities.
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Defense Minister Amir Peretz welcomed the successful launch, saying it "adds an important layer to Israel's security and it is evidence of Israel's technological strength."

Israel Radio said the Ofek-7 contains notable improvements over the the Ofek-6 satellite, which crashed into the Mediterranean shortly after launch in 2004, costing the Defense Establishment an estimated $80 million.

Ofek-7 is to replace Ofek-5, which has been orbiting for almost five years. Ofek-5's life had to be extended when the launch of Ofek-6 failed.

Ofek-7 was developed in conjunction with several leading Israeli defense industry companies, including Rafael, and its cost is classified. The satellite weighs roughly 300 kilograms and is expected to follow an elliptical orbit at an altitude of between 311 and 600 kilometers. The satellite is 2.3 meters long and has an expected life of four years.

The satellite's launch comes amid increasing tension with Iran and reports that Syria has been arming and preparing for a military confrontation with Israel. However, defense establishment sources said there is no connection between these crises and the launch of the satellite.

The sources added that the launch has been planned for some time, and that Israel intends to launch a new satellite every two and a half years. The sources added, however, that the satellite will serve the needs of the defense establishment and be used exclusively for defense purposes
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  1.   Great news! 06:38  |  Sherman 11/06/07
  2.   Amazing 06:58  |  Alan 11/06/07
  3.   Good news indeed 07:01  |  Gili 11/06/07
  4.   Against the direction of the Earth`s Rotation 07:07  |  Mireya Siqueiros 11/06/07
  5.   Good Work ! 07:13  |  Ruth 11/06/07
  6.   What kind of morons announce they have a spy satellite? 07:23  |  Steve Holden 11/06/07
  7.   Big deal 07:24  |  Joseph Kobzon 11/06/07
  8.   Pimples on Ahmedinejad`s nose. 07:34  |  Phillipe Theodosius 11/06/07
  9.   great news! 07:42  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 11/06/07
  10.   AHMAGHINEJAD IS WET IN HIS PANCE WITH THE NEWS 07:51  |  reuven 11/06/07
  11.   to steve, the genius. 07:54  |  remy 11/06/07
  12.   I am suprised 07:54  |  David G 11/06/07
  13.   Steve Holden -- Countrys that are not afraid of the truth perhaps 08:13  |  bbl 11/06/07
  14.   #6 Steve Holden 08:38  |  Mickey 11/06/07
  15.   # 6 Steve Holden @ Boston / MA 09:05  |  Joseph E . 11/06/07
  16.   Great, Now Lets Stop The Qassams 09:05  |  J of Hollywood 11/06/07
  17.   many happy returns 09:12  |  Adel 11/06/07
  18.   It is called invisible spy , let see if it can send some info 09:13  |  Joseph E . 11/06/07
  19.   probably used american satellite 09:26  |  Jordi 11/06/07
  20.   The satellite`s launch comes amid increasing tension 09:47  |  Ronn 11/06/07
  21.   Ofek-7 09:47  |  Guido Van Cappellen 11/06/07
  22.   OFEK-7 2 find Shalit! 09:48  |  sam 11/06/07
  23.   Question 09:52  |  Physicist 11/06/07
  24.   Ofek-7 More Effective 10:01  |  Roland 11/06/07
  25.   To #6: Who`s the Moron? 10:02  |  Jack 11/06/07
  26.   what kind of moron doesn`t understand the importance ofannouncing 10:11  |  don 11/06/07
  27.   BRAVO! 10:17  |  Citizen 11/06/07
  28.   #24 Roland more stupid 10:29  |  Hastaroth 11/06/07
  29.   What`s the difference???? 10:34  |  Willy 11/06/07
  30.   #16 THE SOLUTIONS ARE THERE ITS THE LACK OF WILL TO USE THEM 10:35  |  paul harris 11/06/07
  31.   #24 ROLAND IS IN THE WRONG COLUMN TODAY TRY GAZA 10:36  |  paul harris 11/06/07
  32.   To number 6. 10:37  |  David Nigel Braham 11/06/07
  33.   MAZEL TOV TO ISRAEL 10:54  |  MOSHE 11/06/07
  34.   Congratulations ! 10:57  |  observer 11/06/07
  35.   JUST DO IT, BUT DON`T ATTACK 11:03  |  indrajaya 11/06/07
  36.   The war is changing 11:23  |  Teresina 11/06/07
  37.   THESE ARE US SPY SATELLITES 11:57  |  Joseph 11/06/07
  38.   35 Indrajaha...methinks you do protest too much 12:04  |  The Equalizer 11/06/07
  39.   indrajaya indrajaya 12:15  |  Craig F 11/06/07
  40.   Roland -- you should try reading the news sometime 12:30  |  bbl 11/06/07
  41.   Once Again... 12:32  |  Ron Erez 11/06/07
  42.   Joseph #37 the military hardware analyst 12:33  |  bbl 11/06/07
  43.   If Israel discovered a cure for cancer 12:34  |  Sidney 11/06/07
  44.   # 37, JOSEPH 12:36  |  indrajaya 11/06/07
  45.   #17 Adel 12:38  |  Itsik 11/06/07
  46.   There will be a hot summer 12:41  |  Jonathan S 11/06/07
  47.   #37 Joseph 12:49  |  Itsik 11/06/07
  48.   "Iran almost ready to launch spy satellite into space" 12:50  |  JustMe 11/06/07
  49.   Over rated but still a hoot 13:09  |  Natallie Durson 11/06/07
  50.   bbl @ # 13 13:17  |  akiva P 11/06/07
  51.   indrajaya - Iran / Indonesia 13:18  |  Craig F 11/06/07
  52.   Arent these things supposed to be kept secret???? 13:31  |  Ronnie Wolman 11/06/07
  53.   Pathetic,truly pathetic. 13:39  |  Absolute Sweden 11/06/07
  54.   Indrajaya It can detect objects of 70cm on the ground. 14:06  |  PETER SM 11/06/07
  55.   Merci Beaucoup, France 14:09  |  Israel 11/06/07
  56.   To Steve #6 14:22  |  Daniel 11/06/07
  57.   should send Amier Peretz in to space 14:25  |  SJ 11/06/07
  58.   auch Roland! 14:26  |  roland 11/06/07
  59.   Ethan: Missiles to Teheran 14:27  |  Ronnie Wolman 11/06/07
  60.   roland and Natalie 14:28  |  harry 11/06/07
  61.   Maybe they should have called it The Pollard! 14:32  |  Ronnie Wolman 11/06/07
  62.   Tel Aviv"s SJ 14:50  |  akiva P 11/06/07
  63.   # 54, PETER SM 14:55  |  indrajaya 11/06/07
  64.   WHY THESE WERE OF NO USE TO DEFEAT HIZBULLAH??? 15:16  |  Joseph 11/06/07
  65.   people still don`t know what was said in the october 15:18  |  pal 11/06/07
  66.   You`re missing the point, people. 15:20  |  Ethan 11/06/07
  67.   Mireya / Mexico 15:24  |  Freddy 11/06/07
  68.   Thank G-D 15:29  |  Nicole 11/06/07
  69.   Crazy, suspicious, trigger-happy people. 15:47  |  Omran 11/06/07
  70.   #64 JOSEPH ASKS WHY TO THE OBVIOUS 16:13  |  paul harris 11/06/07
  71.   Omran #69 - Not Quite Right 16:24  |  Double Click 11/06/07
  72.   #69 Omran 16:28  |  Itsik 11/06/07
  73.   Ronnie, you attacked me before I posted on this article! 16:34  |