Israeli students built largest satellite constellation, launched into space

By Anjali Sharma

WASHINGTON – According to the Israel Space Agency on Monday 9 miniature satellites designed and developed by Israeli high school students were launched into space.

ISA on social media platform X called it “the largest Israeli satellite constellation built by students in 9 municipalities,” that the satellites were launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base.

According to SpaceX, the satellites were launched at 8.43 a.m. local time, media reported.

ISA said in a separate statement on its website that the satellites, including the first-ever Druze satellite developed by students from the Druze community, were deployed into an orbit about 500 km above Earth, where they will remain for about three years with the mission of measuring cosmic radiation and its effects on electronic components.

The development of the satellites was part of the Tevel 2 national project led by the ISA and Tel Aviv University, at a cost of 10.5 million shekels (about 2.88 million dollars), the statement said.

The project aims to connect different Israeli communities and promote equal opportunities in science and technology education, the statement said.

The Innovation, Science, and Technology Ministry, in partnership with Tel Aviv University and nine local authorities launched the Tevel 2 project with a budget of NIS 10.5 million.

ISA said that this initiative involves setting up satellite communication stations, allowing students to track mission data and manage operations.

Uri Oron, director of ISA said “We are witnessing a winning combination of scientific excellence, technological education, and societal integration”.

He added that the Tevel 2 project is a testament to the power of Israeli innovation.

“These satellites will not only provide crucial scientific data but also serve as an inspiration for the next generation of Israeli space scientists,” Oron stated.

It was designed to operate for three years, the project aims to inspire Israel’s next generation of space engineers and scientists.