IAI TecSAR-1

IAI TecSAR-1, also known as TechSAR, Polaris and Ofeq-8, is an Israeli reconnaissance satellite equipped with a synthetic-aperture radar developed by Elta Systems and built by Israel Aerospace Industries. It was launched at 03:45 UTC on 21 January 2008 by a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in India, the first Israeli use of the Indian launcher, which allowed a west to east orbit that cannot be reached from Israel. The orbit is low Earth, with an apogee of 580 kilometres, a perigee of 405 kilometres and an inclination of 41 degrees. As the first Israeli satellite to carry synthetic aperture radar it provides images day or night and in all weather, with a resolution reported up to 10 centimetres, and it started transmitting images on 1 February 2008. Israel Aerospace Industries operates the satellite.