Israel’s most advanced communications satellite successfully launched by SpaceX

Published on July 14, 2025

On July 13, 2025, Israel successfully launched its most advanced communications satellite, Dror-1, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral. Developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), the 4.5-ton satellite features the largest reception antennas ever on an Israeli satellite and is designed to meet Israel’s communication needs for the next 15 years. After separating from the rocket’s second stage, Dror-1 began deploying its solar panels and antennas and will take about two weeks to reach its fixed orbit at 36,000 km. IAI engineers will conduct functionality tests before the satellite begins its operational mission. IAI CEO Boaz Levy emphasized that Dror-1 represents a major step in sustaining Israel's strategic space capabilities and highlights decades of technological innovation within the national space program.

Read the full article here.

Other news

DARPA Sets New Record for Wireless Power Beaming

July 14, 2025
DARPA's POWER program has set a new record in wireless energy transmission, successfully delivering over 800 watts of power across 8.6 kilometers using an infrared laser beam—far surpassing previous records. The breakthrough concludes the first phase of the project, which prioritized rapid development over efficiency, using off-the-shelf solar cells and achieving roughly 20% receiver efficiency. T

Drones Are Key to Winning Wars Now. The U.S. Makes Hardly Any.

July 14, 2025
The U.S. military is urgently trying to modernize its drone warfare capabilities through exercises like a recent one in Alaska, where American-made drone prototypes were tested—but often failed—against electronic countermeasures. Despite growing threats and widespread drone use by countries like Russia, China, and Ukraine, the U.S. lags in producing affordable, combat-ready drones and in training