Israeli spy satelite launch fails

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2004-09-09 05:54am

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/474364.html

The cost of Israel's failed attempt to launch the Ofek-6 spy satellite Monday, after a malfunction in the third phase of the Shavit satellite launcher, stands at some $100 million.

As a result of the malfunction, the satellite crashed into the Mediterranean Sea. The Ofek-6 satellite destroyed in the crash was developed by a consortium led by state-owned Israel Aircraft Industries.

The failure is being seen as a serious setback for Israel's security industry, which had hoped that the Ofek-6 would serve another layer in Israel's advanced warning system in case of a surprise missile attack. The satellite was also designed to provide real-time information on Iran's missile program.

"Such incidents are very expensive for all involved," a defense source said about the lost satellite.

The setback came days after Israel's missile-killer system, the Arrow II, failed to shoot down a dummy missile off the coast of California.

Preparations for the launch were conducted in complete secrecy and the exact time of the launch was kept secret from the media. The attempted launch was eventually held at Palmachim at 1:45 P.M. (10:45 A.M. GMT).

Ahead of time, all the signs were that the launch would be successful. The first and second stages of the launch went ahead without hitch, but the malfunction occurred during the third stage, and the satellite crashed into the sea.

The Ofek-6 satellite exploded soon after launch, but no injuries were reported on the ground, military officials said.

The Shavit missile that carried the satellite apparently malfunctioned, the officials said on condition of anonymity.

Israel has launched several satellites of different kinds, including in 1996 the Amos 1, which carries TV stations, and the Ofek-6's predecessor, Ofek-5, which was launched in 2002.

Soul Ripper · Post by **Soul Ripper** » 2004-09-09 07:03am

Maybe ofek 7 will be better

Xenophobe3691 · Post by **Xenophobe3691** » 2004-09-09 12:56pm

Oh well, just try again. If they have the money to do it...

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2004-09-09 01:00pm

Xenophobe3691 wrote:Oh well, just try again. If they have the money to do it...

Not really, our budget could be described as 3rd world problems, basicly no money for anything thanks to the Intifada, which has sucked up everything for the military and Interior defense.

I mean... we're losing days of school for now additional hours. I think we're in the bottom of the celler in the money department.

Dark Primus · Post by **Dark Primus** » 2004-09-09 05:05pm

They are destroying Israel from the inside.

Bob the Gunslinger · Post by **Bob the Gunslinger** » 2004-09-09 05:50pm

Oh great, everything get's blamed on Israel.

"It is the Zionist's fault that the Zionist satellite fell from the sky. Why oh why do the Zionists do this stuff?"

I tells ya I'm just sick of all these conspiracy theories!

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2004-09-10 12:28am

Dark Primus wrote:They are destroying Israel from the inside.

I don't know about physicly destroying Israel, but at this rate, we're not going to have anything but good soldiers, not at the rate the education and health seems to be dissapearing.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2004-09-10 09:05am

Bob the Gunslinger wrote:Oh great, everything get's blamed on Israel.
"It is the Zionist's fault that the Zionist satellite fell from the sky. Why oh why do the Zionists do this stuff?"

I tells ya I'm just sick of all these conspiracy theories!

Well obviously the Vast Zionist Conspiracy caused the Vast Zionist Spy Satellite to fail, for a Vast Variety of Zionist Reasons. What are they? Don't ask me, the Vast Zionist Conspiracy just pays me to bake a Vast Zionist Bagels with Vast Zionist Cream Cheese smeared on top (in a Vast way), they don't let me in on these things.

Bob the Gunslinger · Post by **Bob the Gunslinger** » 2004-09-10 03:30pm

Gil Hamilton wrote:
Bob the Gunslinger wrote:Oh great, everything get's blamed on Israel.
"It is the Zionist's fault that the Zionist satellite fell from the sky. Why oh why do the Zionists do this stuff?"

I tells ya I'm just sick of all these conspiracy theories!
Well obviously the Vast Zionist Conspiracy caused the Vast Zionist Spy Satellite to fail, for a Vast Variety of Zionist Reasons. What are they? Don't ask me, the Vast Zionist Conspiracy just pays me to bake a Vast Zionist Bagels with Vast Zionist Cream Cheese smeared on top (in a Vast way), they don't let me in on these things.

"You sir are vastly forgetting my lox!"

Post by **LadyTevar** » 2004-09-10 03:38pm

Bob the Gunslinger wrote:
Gil Hamilton wrote:
Bob the Gunslinger wrote:Oh great, everything get's blamed on Israel.
"It is the Zionist's fault that the Zionist satellite fell from the sky. Why oh why do the Zionists do this stuff?"

I tells ya I'm just sick of all these conspiracy theories!
Well obviously the Vast Zionist Conspiracy caused the Vast Zionist Spy Satellite to fail, for a Vast Variety of Zionist Reasons. What are they? Don't ask me, the Vast Zionist Conspiracy just pays me to bake a Vast Zionist Bagels with Vast Zionist Cream Cheese smeared on top (in a Vast way), they don't let me in on these things.
"You sir are vastly forgetting my lox!"

Oy Vay!