The Ofek 11 observation (spy) satellite launched Tuesday by Israel is experiencing a few hiccups.
The satellite was launched into space from Palmahim air base south of Tel Aviv, but the Defense Ministry has since become concerned that systems aboard the aircraft may not be functioning properly.
According to Aerospace Director Amnon Harari, not everything is going the way it should be – but it’s hard to tell, because the satellite is not constantly accessible to crews on the ground, the way a communications satellite would be.
“There are indications that show us that things may not be working as we expected,” Harari said. “It will take a few days to determine whether the launch was successful.”
The satellite orbits the earth once every hour and a half, and according to Israel Aircraft Industries aerospace director Ofer Doron, a few things are “not quite routine,” but operators are continuing their diagnostics.
Operators have access to the Ofek 11 only for a few short hours once a day, so it may take a few days before the tech teams know for sure whether they were successful in their attempts to adjust the settings.