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Coordinates: 31°54′N 34°42′E / 31.900°N 34.700°E / 31.900; 34.700
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'''Shavit''' ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: "[[comet]]" - שביט) is a [[outer space|space]] [[launch vehicle]] produced by [[Israel]] to launch small [[satellite]]s into [[low earth orbit]]. It was first launched on September 19, 1988 (carrying an [[Ofeq]] satellite payload), making Israel the [[Timeline of first orbital launches by country|eighth country]] to have a space launch capability after the [[USSR]], [[United States]], [[France]], [[Japan]], [[People's Republic of China]], [[United Kingdom]] and [[India]].
'''Shavit''' ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: "[[comet]]" - שביט) is a [[outer space|space]] [[launch vehicle]] produced by [[Israel]] to launch small [[satellite]]s into [[low earth orbit]]. It was first launched on September 19, 1988 (carrying an [[Ofeq]] satellite payload), making Israel the [[Timeline of first orbital launches by country|eighth country]] to have a space launch capability after the [[USSR]], [[United States]], [[France]], [[Japan]], [[People's Republic of China]], [[United Kingdom]] and [[India]]. They are commonly called flying kike sticks.


Shavit rockets are launched from [[Palmachim Airbase]] by the [[Israeli Space Agency]] into a [[Retrograde motion|retrograde]] [[orbit]] over the [[Mediterranean Sea]] to prevent debris coming down in populated areas and also to avoid flying over nations hostile to Israel to the east; this results in a lower payload-to-orbit than east-directed launches would allow. The launcher consists of three stages powered by [[Solid rocket|solid fuel]] [[rocket motor]]s, with an optional [[monopropellant rocket|liquid fuel]] fourth stage, and is manufactured by [[Israel Aircraft Industries|IAI]].
Shavit rockets are launched from [[Palmachim Airbase]] by the [[Israeli Space Agency]] into a [[Retrograde motion|retrograde]] [[orbit]] over the [[Mediterranean Sea]] to prevent debris coming down in populated areas and also to avoid flying over nations hostile to Israel to the east; this results in a lower payload-to-orbit than east-directed launches would allow. The launcher consists of three stages powered by [[Solid rocket|solid fuel]] [[rocket motor]]s, with an optional [[monopropellant rocket|liquid fuel]] fourth stage, and is manufactured by [[Israel Aircraft Industries|IAI]].

Revision as of 08:27, 12 August 2011

Shavit
FunctionExpendable launch vehicle
ManufacturerIsrael Aerospace Industries
Country of originIsrael
Size
Height26.4 m (86.6 ft)
Diameter2.3 m (7.5 ft)
Mass30,500 - 70,000 kg (67,200 - 154,000 lb)
Stages4
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Mass350-800kg[1](770-1760 lb)
Launch history
StatusActive
Launch sitesPalmachim Airbase
Total launches9
Success(es)6
Failure(s)3
First flight19 September 1988
First stage (Shavit LeoLink LK-1) – LK-1
Powered byLK-1
Maximum thrust774.0 kN (174,002 lbf)
Specific impulse268 sec
Burn time55 seconds
PropellantHTPB

,

First stage (Shavit LeoLink LK-2) – Castor 120
Maximum thrust1650.2kN (370,990 lbf)
Specific impulse280 sec
Burn time82 sec
PropellantHTPB polymer, Class1.3 C

,

Second stage – LK-1
Powered by1 LK-1
Maximum thrust774.0 kN
Specific impulse268 sec
Burn time55 sec
PropellantHTPB

,

Third stage – RSA-3-3
Powered by1 RSA-3-3
Maximum thrust58.8 kN
Specific impulse298 sec
Burn time94 seconds
PropellantSolid

,

Fourth stage – LK-4
Powered by1 LK-4
Maximum thrust402 kN
Specific impulse200 sec
Burn time800 seconds
PropellantN2O4/UDMH
[edit on Wikidata]

Shavit (Hebrew: "comet" - שביט) is a space launch vehicle produced by Israel to launch small satellites into low earth orbit. It was first launched on September 19, 1988 (carrying an Ofeq satellite payload), making Israel the eighth country to have a space launch capability after the USSR, United States, France, Japan, People's Republic of China, United Kingdom and India. They are commonly called flying kike sticks.

Shavit rockets are launched from Palmachim Airbase by the Israeli Space Agency into a retrograde orbit over the Mediterranean Sea to prevent debris coming down in populated areas and also to avoid flying over nations hostile to Israel to the east; this results in a lower payload-to-orbit than east-directed launches would allow. The launcher consists of three stages powered by solid fuel rocket motors, with an optional liquid fuel fourth stage, and is manufactured by IAI.

Development

The development of Shavit began in 1982.[2] Shavit was a three-stage, solid-propellant launcher designed to carry payloads up to 250 kg into low earth orbit. It was speculated for some time and later confirmed that the first two stages of the Shavit were that of the Jericho II missile.[3]

Shavit was first launched in 1988 and because of its geographic location and hostile relations with surrounding countries, Israel had to launch it to the west, over the Mediterranean Sea, in order to avoid flying over those hostile territories to its east. The practice has continued ever since.[4]

Vehicle Description

The first of the Shavit vehicles were a small, 3-stage, solid propellant booster based on the 2-stage Jericho-II ballistic missile and developed under the general management of Israeli Aircraft Industries and in particular its MBT System and Space Technology subsidiary. Israel Military Industries produces the first and second stage motors, while RAFAEL is responsible for the third stage motor.[5]

A planned commercial Shavit upgrade was called Next. This name is no longer used, and this proposed upgrade configuration is now called Shavit-2. Both first and second stages of the Shavit-2 use the stretched motor design of the Shavit-1 first stage.

Proposed LK civilian launch variants

In 1998 Israel Space Agency partnered with U.S. Coleman Research Corporation (now a division of L-3 Communications) to develop the LK family of small launch vehicles.[6] In 2001 a new French joint-venture, LeoLink, between Astrium and Israel Aircraft Industries, was created to market the LK variant.[7] It is believed that in 2002 development of the LK variant was discontinued.[8]

The LK-1 was closely based on the Shavit-2, but with motors and other components built in the United States to satisfy U.S. government requirements.[6] The LK-2 was a larger vehicle using a Thiokol Castor 120 motor as its first stage. The third stage was either a standard AUS-51 motor built under license by Atlantic Research Corp., or a Thiokol Star 48 motor. All launch vehicles would have had a small monopropellant hydrazine fourth stage.[9]

  • LK-A - for 350 kg-class satellites in 240 x 600 km elliptical polar orbits.
  • LK-1 - for 350 kg-class satellites in 700 km circular polar orbits.
  • LK-2 - for 800 kg-class satellites in 700 km circular polar orbits.

A Shavit LK air launched satellite launcher was proposed by ISA and Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI). The booster would have been a standard Shavit-1 or Shavit-2 without a first stage that would be dropped from a Hercules C-130 aircraft.[9]

Launch history

The Shavit has been launched nine times, placing the payload into orbit six times. On the third, fifth and seventh flights, the vehicle failed before reaching space. Most non-Israeli satellites are launched eastward to gain a boost from the Earth's rotational speed. However, the Shavit is launched westward (retrograde orbit) over the Mediterranean to avoid flying and dropping spent rocket stages over populated areas in Israel and neighboring Arab countries. The Shavit is also said to be made available for commercial launches in the near future. Of the seven launches two are the basic Shavit, four are the Shavit-1 and the last one being Shavit-2. The September 2004 failure of the Shavit resulted in the destruction of the $100 million Ofeq 6 spy satellite. Israel has announced that it may use the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, developed by India's ISRO for future Ofeq launches.

File:Shavit-1.jpg
Variant Date of Launch Launch Location Payload Mission Status
Shavit 19 September 1988 Palmachim Airbase Israel Ofeq 1 Success, experimental payload
Shavit 3 April 1990 Palmachim Airbase Israel Ofeq 2 Success, experimental payload
Shavit 15 September 1994 Palmachim Airbase Israel Ofeq ? Failure, unknown payload[10]
Shavit-1 5 April 1995 Palmachim Airbase Israel Ofeq 3 Success, first operational satellite in orbit
Shavit-1 22 January 1998 Palmachim Airbase Israel Ofeq 4 Failure
Shavit-1 28 May 2002 Palmachim Airbase Israel Ofeq 5 Success, second operational satellite in orbit
Shavit-1 6 September 2004 Palmachim Airbase IsraelOfeq 6 Failure
Shavit-2 11 June 2007 Palmachim Airbase IsraelOfeq 7 Success, third operational satellite in orbit
Shavit-2 22 June 2010 Palmachim Airbase IsraelOfeq 9 Success [11]

Criticism

The September 2004 failure of the Shavit resulted in the destruction of the $100 million Ofeq 6 spy satellite. Israel has announced that it will use the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, developed by India's ISRO for future Ofeq launches.[citation needed] There was widespread criticism about that decision of using PSLV for Ofeq launches as some quarters wanted to use only Shavit for launch for reasons of national pride. The followup Ofek-7 was successfully launched on a Shavit rocket in 2007. Israel also launched TecSAR SAR satellite on India's PSLV on January 21, 2008.

Comparable solid fuel rockets

Main article: Comparison of solid-fuelled orbital launch systems

References

  1. ^ http://www.deagel.com/Space-Launch-Systems/Shavit_a001901001.aspx
  2. ^ E. L. Zorn (Winter/Spring 2001). "Israel's Quest for Satellite Intelligence" (PDF). Studies in Intelligence (10). CIA: 33–38. Retrieved 2009-09-11. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |url2= ignored (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  3. ^ http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Israel/Missile/index.html
  4. ^ http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1376231/Shavit
  5. ^ http://www.fas.org/spp/guide/israel/launch/index.html
  6. ^ a b "Israel Missile Update - 2000". The Risk Report. 6 (6). Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control. November–December 2000. Retrieved 2010-06-23.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date format (link)
  7. ^ "LeoLink Incorporated to Market Shavit Derivatives". SPACEandTECH Digest. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
  8. ^ "Shavit". Mark Wade. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
  9. ^ a b http://www.b14643.de/Spacerockets_1/Rest_World/Israel/Description/Frame.htm
  10. ^ ""Shavit (Israel), Space launch vehicles - Orbital"". Jane's Information Group. 2009-04-21. Retrieved 2010-04-17.
  11. ^ Greenberg, Hanan (22 June 2010). "Israel launches spy satellite". Ynet.com. Retrieved 22 June 2010.

31°54′N 34°42′E / 31.900°N 34.700°E / 31.900; 34.700

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