Ofeq 10 (TECSAR 2)

Spacecraft nº:

Israel spacecraft nº: 19

Launch data: Designation  39650 / 14019A Launch date  09 April 2014 - 19:06 UT Launch site  Palmachim Launch vehicle  Shavit-2 Mission  Earth observing (Radar) Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  397 x 609 km Eccentricity   Inclination  140.9 ° Period  94.5 min

Spacecraft data:

Description:

• TECSAR (also transcribed TechSAR) is the first israeli SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) technology demonstration satellite. TECSAR combines high resolution with large area coverage using electronic beam steering

Mission details:

• Israel reportedly launched the 'Ofeq-10 (Horizon-10) satellite on Apr 9, 2014.
  The Jerusalem Post reports it carries a radar imaging (SAR) payload. Israeli news reports give a launch time of 2215 local (1915 UTC) but the official Israeli MOD YouTube video of the launch gives a time of 1906 UTC. Amateur tracking puts the satellite in a 384 x 609 km x 141.0 deg orbit as of Apr 16. In contrast to all other countries which launch either to polar orbit or eastward - to take advantage of Earth's rotation direction - Israel launches westward over the Med to retrograde orbit, accepting a payload mass penalty as a result. The reasons for this are, of course, obvious: eastward launches from Israel might be misinterpreted by its neighbours.

External links:

• Satellite tracking:
  Real time satellite tracking