Shavit

Shavit 1 RSA-3 (rumoured export designation)

Mission Profile

The Shavit (Shavit 1, RSA-3) was a three-stage Israeli solid-fuelled launch vehicle in the Shavit family, Israel's first indigenous orbital rocket derived from the Jericho II ballistic missile. Standing 15 m tall with a 1.4 m diameter and a liftoff mass of 23 tonnes, it could deliver 160 kg to low Earth orbit. First flying in September 1988, the Shavit launched Israel's Ofeq reconnaissance satellites westward over the Mediterranean to avoid overflying hostile neighbours, making Israel the ninth nation to achieve independent orbital launch capability.