ISRO launches Israeli Spy Satellite

The suspense over India’s plans of launching an Israeli spy satellite is finally over. On 21 Jan 2008, ISRO successfully launched the much anticipated Israeli satellite Polaris into space. Considering the extreme geopolitical sensitivity of the launch, ISRO had kept this launch a secret.

This is ISRO’s second "core alone" configuration launch. It implies that ISRO’s PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) rocket was fired exclusively for commercial purposes for the second time. Earlier an Italian Agile satellite was launched by ISRO in April 2007 with PSLV C-8. The core-alone PSLV weighs 230 tonnes, and can put satellites up to 600 kg into orbit. It was reported that the ISRO had charged a fee of $11 million for the Italian satellite launch.

The 300 kg Israeli satellite also known as the TECSAR was launched under a commercial contract between Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and ANTRIX Corporation, a commercial outfit of ISRO. TECSAR is a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology satellite that has the capability to see through clouds and carry out day and night all-weather imaging. This is a relatively new technology that offers the opportunity to measure ground movements to a millimeter level accuracy and obviously has immense utility from the military point of view.

The launch of this satellite had been expected for the last six months, and ISRO had been criticized for postponing the launch due to political pressures. It was argued that many countries in West Asia were opposed to the launch because the satellite would give Israel a major strategic advantage in intelligence gathering over its adversaries in the region.

In India also this issue had become politically significant. Some were of the opinion that the launch would have an adverse impact on Indo-Iranian relations. Media reports even indicated that India had come under US pressure and “abandoned” the launch because the US did not want ISRO to gain a slice of the launch market. The Paris-based market research firm Euroconsult has estimated that the launch market is likely to grow to $145 billion over the next 10 years, from $116 billion in 1997-2006.  The launch, however, has proved that India is today not only keen, but also capable of competing with space giants like the US, Russia, and European Space Agency. China and Ukraine also offer facilities for commercial launch. Today, the launch market is worth approximately $2.5 billion an year.

The launch also clearly indicates that Indo-Israel defence and other related deals are not likely to succumb to domestic or international pressures. Israel wanted India to launch this satellite for two reasons: economical and technical. Though Israel has its own launching capabilities, it is expected that Israel would have saved minimum $5 million by choosing India over their own. Secondly, the performance of its own launch capabilities in the recent past has not been very reliable. In Sep 2004, its Shavit rocket failed to deliver the Defence Ministry’s Ofeq-6 electro-optical imaging satellite. The destruction of this rocket immediately after its launch cost the country approximately $100 million. Also, given Israel’s geographical position, any launch from its soil does not permit a satellite to reach higher orbits, which is essential to get a better coverage. An Indian PSLV launch, from a site close to equator has no such restrictions. Since Israel is expected to use this system to gather intelligence mainly over Iran and Syria apart from other regions, it required the launch to be from a place another than its own.

Interestingly, since this launch had not taken place as expected during end of 2007 certain sections of media had reported that India was making compromises with its own security requirements because the data from such a satellite would help Indian security establishments too. However, this allegation looks hollow because India already has Cartosat -1 & 2 that are capable of providing inputs and ISRO is expected to launch Carotsat 2A shortly which would offer sub-meter resolution capability. As such SAR technology cannot penetrate vegetation, hence is not of much use in the J & K and adjoining regions. Also, Israel Aerospace Industries has reached an agreement with the US company-Northrop Grumman Space Technology regarding the utility of this system. Apart from Israel, it appears that Pentagon would be benefiting from this launch. India’s role in this deal essentially remains restricted to providing launching facilities.

The launch proves that ISRO has not only matured in the technology arena but also knows how to play its cards well. Over the last six months it never reacted to criticism for launch delay. Interestingly, it had never officially announced the dates of the launch. So, in reality, the question of postponement never existed. It went ahead with the launch when it found it technically and politically feasible. And as always did it successfully.