The Israel Space Agency
The Israeli Space Agency was founded in 1983 by Yuval Ne’eman. It operates under the Ministry of Science and Technology. The agency has many goals; it wants to promote space research and space technology. Scientific research and development in the space field are very important. The agency also focuses on making lives for Israeli citizens easier through research in agriculture, communications, and monitoring environmental pollution. It promotes research, collaboration with other space agencies, investing in start-ups, and developing and constructing space satellites. It wants Israel to be prominent in the space field and a leader in space research. The space agency has many plans and collaborations.
Here are a couple of its initiatives and programs:
StemRad vest:
A company called StemRad developed a radiation vest, called the AstroRad radiation protection vest. The vest protects astronauts from high energy radiation that is beyond low earth orbit. It helps protect organs and tissues which are most sensitive to radiation. The Israeli Space Agency and NASA have agreed to use the vest for the Artemis 1 program, which will return humans to the moon once again.
The Shalom project:
In 2009, Israel’s space agency and the Italian Space Agency (ASI) collaborated to develop satellites in the fields of communication and observation. The main objective of the project is to focus on hyperspectral observation satellites. These satellites are very useful in environmental protection, research, and agriculture. The camera can take pictures in different wavelengths and spectral measurements that help with the identification of chemical substances. This project will help with monitoring vegetation and mines, and locating contaminants on earth’s surface in the atmosphere and water. The project is funded and divided evenly by both agencies. The project is going to start operating in 2021.
I think it’s great that Israel is including itself in the space initiative. The fact that such a small country can accomplish so much shows Israel’s exceptional capacity to contribute to science on the global scale, despite the many other challenges it faces. It really is an inspiration for all countries.
