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Israeli spy sat crashes on launch<br />Correspondents in Jerusalem<br />September 7, 2004<br /><br />ISRAEL'S new-generation spy satellite Ofek 6 has failed a launch attempt and crashed into the Mediterranean after a technical malfunction.<br /><br />"Today, September 6, 2004 at 1:53 pm (1053 GMT) an unsuccessful attempt was made to launch into orbit a remote sensing satellite," a defence ministry statement said. <br /><br />"The source of the malfunction in the third stage is being investigated by experts from the MOD and the involved industries," it said. <br /><br />The ministry said the satellite crashed into the sea after a launcher malfunction. <br /><br />"The satellite did not explode. There was apparently a malfunction in the third stage ... (and) it sank into the Mediterranean Sea hundreds of kilometres from shore," the ministry said. <br /><br />The satellite is seen as a major asset for Israel's military intelligence services, and is considered one of the most advanced in the world, the radio said. <br /><br />The satellite and its launcher were developed by a consortium of high-tech industries including Israel Military Industries, Rafael, Elbit Systems and Elisra. <br /><br />On May 28, 2002, Israel launched the Ofek 5 satellite to keep an eye on its neighbours and lift it into an exclusive club of states with satellite programmes. <br /><br />According to military experts, Ofek 5, which circles the earth every 90 minutes, provides pictures of troop movements, missile-launcher locations and the construction of nuclear sites. <br /><br />It is capable of taking pictures of objects as small as a metre in length from an altitude of 450km. <br /><br />Agence France-Presse<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------- </p><p>Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?</p><p>Go here to see how: <strong>SDC Eye saver </strong> </p> </div>