Israel Aerospace Industries space program head Ofer Doron said that not all systems are functioning.
Israel's Ministry of Defense and Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) (TASE: ARSP.B1) launched the Ofek 11 surveillance satellite from Palmahim south of Tel Aviv on Tuesday evening. But several hours after the launch the head of the IAI space program Ofer Doron reported that the satellite had encountered problems and that not all systems were functioning. Doron said that IAI was striving to stabilize the satellite and that the first hours after any launch were difficult.
Ministry of Defense Satellite Administration head Amnon Harari said, "The satellite has entered orbit and we have made contact with it.
Attempts to stabilize the satellite could take several days.
The launch comes less than two weeks after the Amos 6 communications satellite, built by IAI for Spacecom Satellite Communications Ltd. (TASE:SCC), was destroyed on the launch pad when SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket exploded in Florida.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on September 14, 2016
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Ofek 9
Yuval Azulai and Globes correspondent