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Engineers inspecting the TECSAR satellite prior to its Monday launch (IAI).
Last update - 12:59 21/01/2008
Satellite launch bolsters ability to spy on Tehran
By Yossi Melman, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Israel, Iran, spy satellite 

Israel launched early Monday a sophisticated new spy satellite, designated TECSAR, which could boost intelligence gathering capabilities regarding Iran.

The satellite was sent into orbit from the Sriharikota Launching Range in India, using an Indian rocket.

The TECSAR, manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), has the ability to use radar to identify targets even under adverse weather conditions including dense clouds.
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As such, it differs from Israel's Ofek series of reconnaissance satellites, which rely on cameras.

IAI officials said that the satellite, which weighs some 300 kilograms, was launched at 5:45 A.M. Israel time, and was successfully placed in orbit. IAI ground stations reported receiving signals at 7:10 A.M. showing that all measuring parameters were operating correctly.

Scientists and engineers are now conducting a battery of tests to check the systems and gauge their performance. A first picture from the satellite is expected within two weeks.

The TECSAR launch was postponed a number of times in the past, largely due to weather conditions.

Israel currently operates a number of reconnaissance satellites, including Ofek 5 and Ofek 7, as well as several commercial satellites such as the Amos and EROS series. A total of 11 Israeli satellites have been placed in orbit, a number of them still operational.

The Ofek 5 was launched in May, 2002, and the Ofek 7, last July, from the Palmachim missile range on Israel's coast.

Israel intends to launch another two spy satellites as part of its strategic cooperation commitments

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      1.   "A Sophisticated New Spy Satellite 10:08  |  Clickfool 21/01/08
      2.   Clickfool 10:43  |  Nephtaly 21/01/08
      3.   What happens if China takes out the Israeli 11:31  |  spyguy 21/01/08
      4.   nephtaly #2 12:01  |  thugs? 21/01/08
      5.   C.FOOL" the Israeli Secret Service spreading false fantasies" 12:01  |  PETER SM 21/01/08
      6.   reading comentaries 12:33  |  vladimir 21/01/08
      7.   Technology, Lead by Solid Policy, is the Way Forward 12:47  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 21/01/08
      8.   super sattellite. 12:53  |  examiner 21/01/08
      9.   For Peter SM # 5 12:55  |  Clickfool 21/01/08
      10.   SPYGUY China has good relations with Israel 13:12  |  PETER SM 21/01/08
      11.   ZIONISTS WANT MONOPOLY OF KNOW-HOW 13:41  |  TrippleJump 21/01/08
      12.   EXAMINER. NIE said "moderate confidence" Care to bet YOUR house 13:45  |  PETER SM 21/01/08
      13.   ahmadlovesjihad does not represent iranians 13:50  |  Michelle 21/01/08
      14.   #9 Clickfool 13:56  |  Chris Linthwaite 21/01/08
      15.   PETER SM. 13:58  |  examiner 21/01/08
      16.   TRIPLE JUMP Monopoly?Catch up,instead of Jihading your brains out 14:02  |  PETER SM 21/01/08
      17.   FOR THE SAKE OF GAZANS, RESTART THE PROGRAM 14:04  |  indrajaya 21/01/08
      18.   Where is that good for? 14:18  |  Edith 21/01/08
      19.   EXAMINER Just answer the question WOULD YOU bet YOUR house? 14:22  |  PETER SM 21/01/08
      20.   #11 Tripplejump - Jealous, are we? 14:28  |  Yonatan 21/01/08
      21.   #13 Michelle - Your error 14:34  |  Yonatan 21/01/08
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      23.   Good job 14:37  |  Mawloud Ould Daddah 21/01/08
      24.   PETER SM does NOT understand China 14:56  |  spyguy 21/01/08
      25.   Israel should not propagate anti-Idol worshipers! 15:04  |  Hindu 21/01/08
      26.   Hindustan helping anti-polytheist bigoted religion 15:05  |  FACT 21/01/08
      27.   PETER SM (answer zee question!) 15:08  |  examiner 21/01/08
      28.   Hindu ...manaste 16:19  |  Lynn 21/01/08
      29.   clickfool - twaddle 16:33  |  Mark Lincoln 21/01/08
      30.   Close Indo-Israeli relations do doubt irksTehran 16:44  |  Conroy 21/01/08
      31.   Hey Hindu! 16:56  |  Karma. 21/01/08
      32.   Mark Lincoln-This satellite 16:58  |  receiver 21/01/08
      33.   Hindue you are partly right, but 17:21  |  Yaakov Sullivan 21/01/08
      34.   Hindu--Hindu Hindu Hindu 17:52  |  Mark T 21/01/08
      35.   #32 Reciever 17:52  |  Chris Linthwaite 21/01/08
      36.   Its Just Our Foreign Policy 18:01  |  Cool B 21/01/08
      37.   #33 James Sullivan 18:02  |  Yonatan 21/01/08
      38.   #33 Are you really Sullivan? I wonder 18:40  |  Yonatan 21/01/08
      39.   #33 Are you really Sullivan? I wonder 18:40  |  Yonatan 21/01/08
      40.   Chris--Sky Sports 18:48  |  Mark T 21/01/08
      41.   Cool--LOL 18:50  |  Mark T 21/01/08
      42.   Yonatan - Jewishness 18:51  |  Mark T 21/01/08
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      45.   But Michelle Amadajinidad is still very much in power!!! 19:23  |  Avi 21/01/08
      46.   Avi-John Bolton also said this 19:50  |  examiner 21/01/08
      47.   Karma 20:22  |  Hindu 21/01/08
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      49.   Hindu 21:20  |  Danite 21/01/08
      50.   To mark T 21:21  |  Avi 21/01/08
      51.   russia nukes to iran 21:23  |  jose marcio 21/01/08
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      53.   #27 - Examiner, one comment 21:35  |  JES 21/01/08
      54.   #2 Nephtaly 21:41  |  Chicago Arab 21/01/08
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      58.   IN THE BEGINNING!!! (AD ACSHAV) 23:45  |  BK 21/01/08
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      61.   receiver - no 00:00  |  Mark Lincoln 22/01/08
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