# Shavit-1

> Israeli small-lift launch vehicle

**Wikidata**: [Q9335951](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9335951)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/shavit-1

## Summary  
Shavit-1 is an Israeli small-lift launch vehicle developed by Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd, designed to place small payloads into low-Earth orbit. It was first launched on May 28, 2002, and retired after its final flight on September 6, 2004. The rocket was part of Israel's domestic space launch program and was used primarily for launching reconnaissance satellites.

## Key Facts  
- First flight: May 28, 2002  
- Final flight: September 6, 2004  
- Manufacturer: Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd  
- Payload capacity: 225 kg to polar orbit  
- Based on: Shavit launch vehicle family  
- Launch site: Palmachim Airbase, Israel  
- Classified as: Small-lift launch vehicle, expendable launch vehicle, solid-propellant rocket  
- Country of origin: Israel  

## FAQs  
### Q: What is the Shavit-1 used for?  
A: The Shavit-1 is a small-lift launch vehicle used to place lightweight payloads, such as reconnaissance satellites, into low-Earth orbit. It was developed as part of Israel’s independent space launch capability.

### Q: When was the Shavit-1 first launched?  
A: The Shavit-1 made its first flight on May 28, 2002. It was operated until its retirement in 2004.

### Q: How much weight can the Shavit-1 carry?  
A: The Shavit-1 can carry up to 225 kilograms into a polar orbit, making it suitable for small satellite missions.

## Why It Matters  
The Shavit-1 represents a key phase in Israel’s development of indigenous space launch capabilities. As a domestically produced small-lift vehicle, it enabled Israel to independently deploy reconnaissance satellites like the Ofeq series without relying on foreign launch services. Though operational for only a brief period, it demonstrated Israel’s growing technological competence in aerospace engineering and national security-related space operations. Its retirement marked a transition toward more advanced iterations like the Shavit-2, which continues to serve Israel’s space program.

## Notable For  
- One of Israel’s few indigenously developed orbital-class launch vehicles  
- Used to launch early iterations of the Ofeq reconnaissance satellite series  
- Operated entirely within a two-year window (2002–2004)  
- Demonstrated Israel’s ability to develop solid-fuel launch technology  
- Based on the earlier Shavit design but optimized for smaller payloads  

## Body  
### Development and Design  
The Shavit-1 is a derivative of the original Shavit launch vehicle, tailored for smaller payload capacities. It uses solid propellant and is classified as both a small-lift and expendable launch vehicle. The design reflects Israel’s strategic need for self-reliance in launching military and intelligence-gathering satellites.

### Operational History  
- **First Flight**: Launched on May 28, 2002, from Palmachim Airbase.  
- **Payloads**: Deployed several Ofeq-series satellites, including Ofeq-3, Ofeq-4, Ofeq-5, and Ofeq-6.  
- **Service End**: Officially retired on September 6, 2004, following a limited operational lifespan.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Manufacturer**: Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd  
- **Launch Site**: Palmachim Airbase  
- **Payload Mass**: 225 kg to polar orbit  
- **Classifications**: Small-lift launch vehicle, expendable launch vehicle, solid-propellant rocket  

### Relationship to Other Systems  
- **Based On**: Shavit  
- **Part Of**: Shavit family of launch vehicles  
- **Successor**: Shavit-2  
- **Satellites Launched**: Ofeq-3, Ofeq-4 (failed), Ofeq-5, Ofeq-6 (failed)  

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Shavit-1",
  "description": "Israeli small-lift launch vehicle",
  "additionalType": "rocket model"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau/shavit.htm)