Israel launches new spy satellite into orbit

Israel launched into orbit a new spy observation satellite on Tuesday, Ofek 19, in what Defence Minister Israel Katz described as a message to its enemies that they are under continuous surveillance.

The Space Program Office in the Israel Ministry of Defense will transfer command of the satellite to the Unit 9900, the Israeli army's visual and geo-spatial intelligence group. Israel joined the club of space powers in 1988 with the deployment of its first Ofek satellite.