“This satellite represents the most sophisticated communications technology Israel has ever put into orbit.”
By Shula Rosen
Israel successfully launched its most advanced communications satellite to date on Sunday, sending the 4.5-ton Dror-1 into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The satellite, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), is expected to meet the country’s communication needs for the next 15 years.
Dror-1 will take approximately two weeks to reach geostationary orbit about 36,000 kilometers above Earth, where it will remain fixed over a specific point. Over the next several days, the satellite will gradually deploy its solar panels and large communications dishes, each measuring 2.8 meters — the largest ever on an Israeli satellite. Its full span with solar panels extended reaches 17.8 meters.
The reusable first-stage booster of the Falcon 9 landed on the drone ship positioned in the Atlantic Ocean.
IAI said the satellite is functioning as expected and undergoing a series of systems checks. “Initial signals received confirm the satellite is operating correctly,” the company stated. “As it stabilizes in orbit, our engineers will conduct performance tests before it begins full service.”
At the launch, IAI CEO Boaz Levy remarked, “This satellite represents the most sophisticated communications technology Israel has ever put into orbit. Our mission was to secure this strategic capability for the nation and provide a long-term solution for critical communications.”
He added, “The Israeli space industry has moved from dream to accomplishment, driven by the ingenuity and hard work of our engineers, who have pioneered complex technologies over the years.”
Around 560 IAI employees contributed to the project over several years, including remote operations during the COVID-19 pandemic and delays caused by regional conflicts.
Once in place, Dror-1 will orbit Earth five times over two weeks before entering its final position.
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