Dror-1 Satellite Achieves Orbit, Launches Israel’s Latest Space Mission

Israel has successfully placed its Dror-1 communications satellite into orbit 36,000 kilometers above Earth, where it has officially begun its operational mission, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced Monday morning.

The satellite, launched in July aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, deployed two solar panels, four communication antennas, and its main engine shortly after reaching its designated orbit. Telemetry sent back to the IAI engineering team confirmed that all systems were fully functional.

“This is another major milestone in Israel’s journey to space independence,” said IAI CEO Boaz Levy, noting that the images received from Dror-1 showed flawless deployment and readiness for service.

Dror-1 will serve as a critical component in meeting Israel’s communications needs for years to come. Its initial orbiting of Earth will take 30 hours before transitioning to a slower orbit of five revolutions over two weeks, traveling at speeds of 3 km per second. Engineers are now running a series of tests to ensure long-term performance.

The satellite measures 17.8 meters by 2.8 meters, weighs 4.5 tons, and incorporates advanced engineering 70 onboard video cameras and 28,000 nails forming part of its intricate structure. It represents decades of Israeli expertise in aerospace technology, building on IAI’s legacy that began in the 1980s with the launch of Ofek 1, Israel’s first observation satellite.

With Dror-1 now in place, Israel strengthens not only its communication infrastructure but also its strategic independence in the space domain, ensuring secure and reliable data links for both civilian and defense purposes.

Israel’s innovation reaches beyond the skies, proving that vision, engineering, and determination can place a small nation among the stars. Share this story or subscribe to our newsletter for more updates on Israel’s cutting-edge achievements.