Shavit 2 (sounding rocket)

Shavit 2 (Hebrew: "comet" - 2 שביט) was the first Israeli sounding rocket, launched on 5 July 1961 for meteorological research.[1][2]

The weight of Shavit 2 was 250 kg and its height was 3.76 metres. The rocket achieved a height of 80 km.

The Shavit sounding rocket is distinct from the later Shavit 2 space launch vehicle also produced by Israel to launch Ofeq reconnaissance satellites into low Earth orbit beginning in September 1988.

References

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  1. ^ Burleson, Daphne (2005). Space Programs Outside the United States: All Exploration and Research Efforts, Country by Country. McFarland. p. 153. ISBN 9780786418527.
  2. ^ Lissak, Moshe (1984). Israeli Society and Its Defense Establishment: The Social and Political Impact of a Protracted Violent Conflict. Psychology Press. ISBN 9780714632353.
  • RAFAEL Armament Development Authority... by Munia Merdor, Ministry of Defense publishing, 1980, pp. 319–348.
  • Above the Horizon, 50 years of Israel's Space Activity, by Dani Shalom, BaAvir flight publishing, 2003, pp. 12–15.