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Satellite launcher derived from Jericho II MRBM, essentially identical to South African RSA-3. NEXT was a variant with an improved upper stage for proposed launch from Wallops Island, USA (launch from Israel is only possible into retrograde orbits since due East launch would be over territory of adjacent countries).

Launches: 5. Failures: 2. Success Rate: 60.00% pct. First Launch Date: 19 September 1988. Last Launch Date: 22 January 1998. LEO Payload: 160 kg. to: 366 km Orbit. at: 143.0 degrees. Liftoff Thrust: 42,080 kgf. Total Mass: 23,630 kg. Core Diameter: 1.4 m. Total Length: 18.0 m. Launch Price $: 15.00 million. in 1999 price dollars.

• Stage Number: 1. 1 x RSA-3-1 Gross Mass: 10,215 kg. Empty Mass: 1,100 kg. Thrust (vac): 46,500 kgf. Isp: 265 sec. Burn time: 52 sec. Isp(sl): 240 sec. Diameter: 1.3 m. Span: 2.3 m. Length: 6.3 m. Propellants: Solid No Engines: 1. RSA-3-1

• Stage Number: 2. 1 x RSA-3-2 Gross Mass: 10,971 kg. Empty Mass: 1,771 kg. Thrust (vac): 48,600 kgf. Isp: 277 sec. Burn time: 52 sec. Isp(sl): 220 sec. Diameter: 1.3 m. Span: 1.3 m. Length: 6.4 m. Propellants: Solid No Engines: 1. RSA-3-2

• Stage Number: 3. 1 x RSA-3-3 Gross Mass: 2,048 kg. Empty Mass: 170 kg. Thrust (vac): 6,000 kgf. Isp: 298 sec. Burn time: 94 sec. Diameter: 1.3 m. Span: 1.3 m. Length: 2.6 m. Propellants: Solid No Engines: 1. RSA-3-3

• Ofeq 1 Spacecraft: Ofeq 1-2. Mass: 155 kg.

  First Israeli launch; possibly experimental surveillance mission. Experimental satellite 'Offeq-1'. Launch time 0934 GMT. Location: site on the coast south of Tel-Aviv. Launching organization: Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd (IAI) and Israeli Space Agency (ISA). Function: 1) Experimentation in generation of solar power; 2) Experimentation in transmission reception from space; 3) Verification of system's ability to withstand vacuum and weightless conditions; 4) Data collection on space environment conditions and Earth's magnetic field.

• Ofeq 2 Spacecraft: Ofeq 1-2. Mass: 160 kg.

  Communication experiments.

• Ofeq Spacecraft: Ofeq 1-2.

• Ofeq-3 Spacecraft: Ofeq 3. Mass: 189 kg.

• Ofeq-4 Spacecraft: Ofeq 3.

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  Shavit Credit: © Mark Wade. 382 bytes. 46 x 137 pixels.

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  Fell in Mediterranean Sea.

• 42 - Isakowitz, Steven J,, International Reference to Space Launch Systems Second Edition, AIAA, Washington DC, 1991.
• 61 - Wilson, Andrew, editor,, Jane's/Interavia Space Directory, Jane's Information Group, Coulsdon, Surrey, 1992 et al.
• 455 - Isakowitz, Steven J,, International Reference to Space Launch Systems Third Edition, AIAA, Washington DC, 2000.