Ofeq, also spelled Offek or Ofek (Hebrew: אופק, lit. Horizon) is the designation of a series of Israeli reconnaissance satellites first launched in 1988. Most Ofeq satellites have been carried on top of Shavit rockets from Palmachim Airbase in Israel, on the Mediterranean coast. The Low Earth Orbit satellites complete one earth orbit every 90 minutes. The satellite launches made Israel only the eighth nation to gain an indigenous launch capability. Both the satellites and the launchers were designed and manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) with Elbit Systems' El-Op division supplying the optical payload.
While exact technical details and capabilities are classified, it is assumed that the Ofeq satellites have ultraviolet and visible imaging sensors, and an effective operational lifespan of 1–3 years. Some early reports stated the reconnaissance capabilities as such that would allow "reading license plates in Baghdad", but that can be ruled out on grounds of physical optics. Other reports more plausibly place the imaging resolution at 0.8 meters for Ofeq 5.
Ofek-9, also known as Ofeq 9, is part of the Ofeq family of reconnaissance satellites designed and built by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for the Israeli Ministry of Defense.
It was launched on June 22, 2010 from Palmachim Airbase in Israel. It was delivered using an improved version of the Shavit launcher. The payload is believed to be the multi-spectral 'Jupiter' space camera produced by El-Op While precise imaging capabilities remain classified, sources say that like the still operating Ofeq 5 and Ofeq 7, Ofeq 9 offers a resolution "much better than" a half-meter. The satellite was also said to be able to detect objects being carried by people.
The satellite operates in a retrograde low Earth orbit.
Ofek-7, also known as Ofeq 7, is part of the Ofeq family of earth observation satellites designed and built by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for the Israel Ministry of Defense.
The Ofek 7 was launched by a Shavit space launch vehicle on June 11, 2007. Equipped with advanced technology and a series of new enhancements to provide improved imagery, it is placed into an elliptical orbit of 300x600 kilometers. Three days after its launch, IAI/MBT Space Division received the first images taken by the satellite. The Ofek 7 is a follow-on spacecraft to Ofek 5 that was placed into orbit in 2002.