Ofeq 6 launch failure
From: Allen Thomson (thomsona_at_flash.net)
Date: 09/07/04
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Date: 7 Sep 2004 07:07:17 -0700
Just to record some factoids, some apparently contradictory, about the
launch attempt:
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http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/474463.html
w w w . h a a r e t z . c o m
Last update - 02:04 07/09/2004
Spy satellite launch fails at cost of $100m
By Amnon Barzilai
The attempt to launch the spy satellite Ofek-6 failed
yesterday when the Shavit rocket carrying the payload on
its tip malfunctioned in its third and final stage.
Ofek-6 was expected to provide Israel with intelligence data
on countries of the "third tier," particularly Iran, who pose
a threat with their ballistic missile and nuclear weapons
programs.
The loss of the satellite is expected to delay Israel's plans
for more sophisticated surveillance of long-distance threats,
as well as an early warning of the launch of ballistic
missiles from enemy territory.
The financial damage as a result of the loss is estimated at
$100 million, but what is of greater concern at Israel Aircraft
Industries, the maker of the Shavit rocket and the Ofek series
of satellites, is that the reputation of its products is
damaged on the international market.
Foreign sources said that the Shavit rocket is a development of
the Jericho surface-to-surface ballistic missile.
Following a great deal of preparation and in full secrecy, the
Shavit missile was launched from the Air Force firing range at
Palmahim at 3:53 p.m., carrying the Ofek-6 in its nose.
The first minutes of the launch were successful, and the Shavit
progressed skyward trailing a huge flame behind.
Even after it was no longer within sight, all systems were
normal - everything appeared to be unfolding as planned on the
screens of the control center, as the missile moved along on
its scheduled trajectory.
Among those present at the launch was Professor Haim Eshed, who
is in charge of the Space Program at the Defense Ministry and
founder of the Israel Space Agency, Professor Yuval Neeman, and
senior officers from the Air Force and Military Intelligence.
Following the completion of the first stage of the flight, the
initial rocket broke away and the second commenced operating
precisely on cue. At this stage, several dozen kilometers
above earth, Shavit exited the atmosphere and continued
climbing.
At the completion of the second stage, a third rocket was
supposed to push the payload into an elliptical trajectory
around the earth, at approximately 400-600 kilometers above
earth.
However, at this stage ground controllers noticed a malfunction
taking place. It appears that the third-stage launch failed to
bring the satellite into its orbit around the the earth.
Once the failure was discovered, consultations were held by
the engineers of the project in order to pinpoint the problem.
According to data from the computers, the failure occured in
the third engine, which was expected to push Ofek-6 into
orbit.
Pinpointing the failed component will enable engineers to
determine whether the Shavit is capable of continuing to serve
as a launch vehicle for space payload.
The engines for the first two stages of the Shavit are made by
the Givon factory of Israel Military Industries, and are an
integral part of the Shavit launcher.
The engine for the third stage is made by Rafael and is not
integral to the Shavit, but is an important component of the
satellite. This last engine pushes the satellite into orbit
and then breaks off from it.
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http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1094440992585
MOD to investigation Ofek 6 launch failure
Arieh O'Sullivan,
THE JERUSALEM POST
Sep. 6, 2004
[EXCERPTS]
The botched afternoon launch of the sophisticated satellite
cost the state some $50 million but would not led to a
situation where the country has no spy satellite in space
since there are currently two Israeli spy satellites in
orbit with life spans of at least two more years.
Nevertheless, the loss of the Ofek 6 would be a setback for
Israel's surveillance on its enemies in the Middle East.
"The Ofek 6 was to have been the third satellite and increase
the backup possibilities and pace of photographs and such
that involve creating an intelligence picture," Prof. Maj.-
Gen. Yitzhak Ben-Israel, former director of IDF Development
of Weapons Systems and Infrastructure.
The launch of the Ofek 6 was kept secret until its failure
when the Defense Ministry put out a laconic statement.
At 1:53 p.m. local time, the Ofek 6 rose off the launch pad
atop a Shavit II missile at the at an air base south of
kibbutz Palmachim. According to the defense sources, the
Shavit II, a civilian version of the inter-continental Jericho
II, performed flawlessly in its first and second stages.
The malfunction came in the third stage, which is an integral
part of the satellite and separate from the Shavit II. This
third stage rocket was to have given it the final boost into
an elliptical orbit some 300 miles above the earth. It failed,
sending the satellite plummeting into the sea, thus
implementing a fail-safe strategy.
In contrast to successful launches, the Defense Ministry
declined to allow anyone involved in the project to speak to
the media. It referred queries to retired experts such as
Ben-Israel.
"In the three or four years we have left (until Ofek 5 dies)
we are able to produce quite a number of satellites," said Ben-
Israel. "It's just a question of money."
The Ofek 6 is produced by Israel Aircraft Industry subsidiary
MBT and contains components provided by Rafael, TASS IMI,
Elbit Systems and Elisra Group.
Israel currently operates the Ofek 5 spy satellite,
successfully launched in May 2002. It has a four-year
lifespan and its producers boast it is the only satellite in
its class that produces such high-resolution pictures from
space. Its telescopic camera was designed by Elbit Systems.
It is forward looking but has variable directionality.
The Ofek 5 downlinks with the ground station at Yehud run
by IAI's MBT. MBT is the prime contractor for the Ofek 5
project.
Ben-Israel told Israel radio that the estimated cost of the
satellite and the launcher was about $50 million.
Monday was to have been a joyous day for Israel's space program.
But instead of circling the earth keeping a watchful eye on its
enemies, the Ofek 6 lies in the depths of the eastern
Mediterranean Sea. Army radio reported that there were voices
in the defense establishment considering retrieving it from the
sea floor.
"There's no point. You can't recover it and launch it again,"
Ben-Israel said. "Anyone else who has the technology to remove
a satellite from deep in the ocean also has the technology to
make their satellite."
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http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Israel-Spy-Satellite.html
Israeli Spy Satellite Falls Into Sea
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 6, 2004
Filed at 3:11 p.m. ET
[EXCERPTS]
JERUSALEM (AP) -- An Israeli spy satellite plunged into the
Mediterranean Sea shortly after launch Monday, dealing a
severe blow to Israel's attempts to closely monitor potential
enemies, particularly Iran.
The mishap occurred when boosters for the Ofek-6 satellite failed,
the Defense Ministry said after the top-secret launch from the
seaside Palmachim air force base in southern Israel. The
satellite fell into the sea near the port city of Ashdod.
``An unsuccessful attempt was made to launch into orbit a remote
sensing satellite,'' the ministry said in a terse statement.
The boosters apparently malfunctioned during the third phase of
flight, said Isaac Ben-Israel, head of the security studies
program at Tel Aviv University, who attended the launch.
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said a replacement for Ofek-6
would be launched sometime in the future.
``It might be with a delay, but it will go up,'' he said.
``We have to be on the satellite map.''
While Israel has three other spy satellites in orbit, they
are not expected to last more than four years, Ben-Israel
said. Ofek-6 was more advanced than its predecessors, but
Ben-Israel refused to give details.
Israel is second only to the United States in spy satellite
technology, Ben-Israel said, adding that Israel is currently
developing the Ofek-7 and Techstar, a radar satellite. Both
are expected to be ready by 2008.
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http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=834520&fid=942
OFEQ-6 spy satellite launch fails
Felix Frisch 6 Sep 04 19:03
[EXCERPT]
The defense establishment failed today in launching the
OFEQ-6 spy satellite into space. The satellite, produced by
Israel Aircraft Industries MBT (MABAT) - Weapon Systems and
Space Technology division, was launched at 1:53pm from the
Palmachim Air Force Base, using a Shavit satellite launcher,
also manufactured by IAI MBT.
The satellite's cost is an estimated $100 million, while
the launcher's cost is in the tens of millions of dollars.
According to the Ministry of Defense's initial assessment,
the launch failed due to a malfunction in the third stage
of the launch, when its engine refused to ignite after
disengaging from the second stage.
The OFEQ-6, equipped with long-range cameras outfitted with
sophisticated night vision capabilities, was supposed to
join the OFEQ-5 in space. The OFEQ-5 spy satellite was
launched in 2002.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3631820.stm
Israeli spy satellite destroyed
By Dr David Whitehouse
BBC News Online science editor
Monday, 6 September, 2004, 16:38 GMT 17:38 UK
[EXCERPTS]
An attempt by Israel to put into orbit a sophisticated spy
satellite has failed, its defence ministry says.
The Shavit rocket carrying the Ofeq-6 satellite exploded in
mid-air over the southern coastal city of Ashdod shortly
after launch. No one was hurt.
The failure of Ofeq-6 is a major setback for Israel that
will impact Israeli-Arab politics.
It was a far more sophisticated spy satellite than Ofeq-5
and was believed to be capable of night-time surveillance.
If Ofeq-5 fails there is now a chance that Israel could
lose its space surveillance capability.
It plans an even better spy satellite in 5-6 years' time
and the satellite that was destroyed was intended to
bridge the gap.
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