Israel Launches Dror-1 Communications Satellite into Geostationary Orbit

Israel launched its new communications satellite, Dror-1, into space on Sunday aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The satellite was developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and supported by the Israel Space Agency (ISA).

According to IAI, Dror-1 is designed to meet Israel’s national communication needs for the next 15 years. It is capable of operating under both routine and emergency conditions and will also support critical defense and security missions, according to ISA officials.

The satellite is now positioned in geostationary orbit at an altitude of 36,000 kilometers, enabling it to broadcast continuously from a fixed point in space.

Dror-1 weighs approximately 4.5 tonnes, has a 17.8-meter wingspan, and is equipped with a 2.8-meter-wide antenna—the largest ever used on an Israeli communications satellite.

With an estimated investment of $200 million, the project marks a major step toward communications sovereignty, reducing Israel’s reliance on foreign commercial satellite providers. Officials have also confirmed plans to launch nine additional satellites of the same class in the coming years to further strengthen Israel’s space-based communication infrastructure.