An Israeli source in the US confirmed that the Israel Aircraft Industry (IAI) requested the National Aeronautical and Space Agency (NASA) launch a commercial satellite from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center on Wallops Island, Virginia, which are launch facilities located in the Atlantic Ocean. IAI is planning to use the Shavit missile to launch the satellite. If the launching succeeds, IAI will request participation in more launchings. The weekly magazines "Space News", "Aviation Week", and "Newsweek" are reportedly covering these developments.
The source said, that if all existing obstacles are removed, IAI will participate in launching the satellite as a sub-contractor of a US company. IAI is already preparing to compete against other companies for the sub-contractor position. The source emphasized that the satellite to be launched is not Israeli and the IAI is not connected to its manufacture.
According to the Israeli source, Israel and the US are negotiating the US government policy which obligates every American satellite to be launched by an American missile. However, according to the source, the main opponents to Israelis entering the field are the US space companies, who fear competition.
IAI desire to enter the commercial satellite launching field stems from the serious shortage of launching means in relation to the booming demand for commercial satellites, primarily communications satellites. This shortage has been exacerbated by the failure of the European (in French Guyana), Russian and Chinese space agencies.
According to "Newsweek", IAI is even interested in selling NASA Shavit missiles, for US satellite launches. The weekly claims that NASA, under serious financial pressures, is interested in supplying services to commercial companies; but a possible deal with Israel is likely to cause serious political problems. The reason is that the Shavit is a civilian derivative of the Jericho missile which can carry a nuclear warhead, and Israel refuses to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
In response, an Israeli source said that while he could not confirm the manufacture or existence of the Jericho 2 in Israel, he could say with certainty that the Shavit is a purely commercial project, and no part is derived from any other project.