International   

Satellite blows up in mid-air

JERUSALEM: An Israeli military satellite blew up in mid-air on Monday, after it was launched from southern Israel, military officials said. The Defence Ministry said that ``an unsuccessful attempt was made to launch into orbit a remote sensing satellite.'' The Israeli daily Haaretz said the satellite was to have provided real-time information on Iran's missile programme. The failure of the launch was seen as a major setback for the military. The Ofek-6 satellite exploded near the city of Ashdod soon after launch at the Palmachim beach, but no injuries were reported on the ground, military officials said. The Shavit missile that carried the satellite apparently malfunctioned, the officials said on condition of anonymity. Israel has launched several satellites of different kinds, including in 1996 the Amos 1, which carries TV stations, and the Ofek 6's predecessor, Ofek 5, which was launched in 2002. Ofek means horizon in Hebrew. — AP

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

• Car bomb kills seven Marines in Fallujah
• Russia mourns Beslan victims
• Arrested man not Al-Douri
• Iraq seals Al-Jazeera offices
• The Maldives in transition — I
• `Marilyn Wrap' raises hackles
• Schroeder party loses State poll
• An early eye for beauty
• Satellite blows up in mid-air
• Counterculture icon aflame
• Kathmandu back to normal
• Protest over Turkish law
• Hurricane leaves trail of destruction in Florida
• Musharraf says he won't quit as Army Chief
• Moscow plans anti-terror measures
• Kerry advised to shift campaign strategy
• `JVP not against interim administration'

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu