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Zusiman said IAI, which purchased two CubeSats, intended to launch one
or more nano-satellites at the end of 2008. Addressing the first association
conference on Tuesday, he said the
platforms would be sent into space orbit by the Russian-origin Dnepr rocket.
This would mark Israel's first nano-satellite launch and employ
platforms purchased from the U.S. firm Boeing. The Jewish state has been a
leading developer of miniature satellites for reconnaissance missions.
The Israeli nano platform, termed Space Qualification and Heritage
Satellite, would contain an atomic clock, GPS payload and perhaps a laser
communications device, executives said. The atomic clock would be provided
by the Israeli firm Accubeat.
Industry analysts said nano-satellites, meant to total $1 million for
platform and launch, remain incapable of military missions, including
reconnaissance and communications. At this point, they said, CubeSat would
be limited to technology demonstrations and space experiments.
"CubeSat's configuration is not a substitute for the next Ofeq or Amos,"
Tal Inbar, deputy director of the Fisher Brothers Institute for Air and
Space Strategic Studies, said.
Ofeq has been Israel's military reconnaissance satellite, while the Amos
is a communications facility. IAI has built both space platforms.
Still, Inbar envisioned a growing and increasingly aggressive
nano-satellite market. He said Israel could develop CubeSat for synthetic
aperture radar and anti-satellite protection operations.
"Israel should be proving nano-technology and raising funds for research
and development," Inbar said.
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