If you’re looking for a story that captures Israeli innovation, cunning and can-do chutzpa, think spy satellites. The Israeli spy satellite Ofeq 9 was launched yesterday, (June 22nd 2010) from the Palmachim Air Force Base on Israel’s Mediterranean coast. ... Israel’s satellite launcher that places the IDF’s spy satellites in space. Mini spy satellites In 1988, Israel launched its first spy satellite into space, gaining membership in the exclusive club of just eight nations with independent satellite-launching capabilities. Yet unfortunately for Tehran, Israel has an even more advanced space program that has already placed spy satellites in orbit, developed interceptors that can shoot down ballistic missiles and even conducted a near-successful attempt to land an unmanned probe on the Moon. Newly Launched Israeli Spy Satellite Transmits Back First Photographs . The launch inaugurated the new Shahrood site in Semnan Province’s Markazi Desert, 400 kilometers east of Tehran. Israeli Transgender Pop Star Dana International Comes to Defense of Harry Potter Author J.K. Rowling. Israel’s new $200 million satellite sparks controversy ― and questions. With the launch of Ofeq-9, Israel has six spy satellites in space. A new Israeli spy satellite is operational and taking high-quality pictures after suffering technical difficulties during its launch earlier this month, defense officials said Thursday. Look to Ofek, the Hebrew word for horizon. The new satellite is the sixth satellite in the Ofeq (Horizon in Hebrew) family of satellites, which began with the launch of the Ofeq 3 in 1995. By: ... Ofek line of spy satellites. ... to collect and transmit information by way of Israeli communication satellites Israel currently has three Ofek spy satellites in space, produced by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The Israeli spy satellite would be a temporary solution until that time. American spy satellites watched Israeli drones take off from bases in Azerbaijan and fly south over the Iranian border — taking extensive pictures of Iran’s nuclear sites and probing whether Iranian air defenses spotted the intrusion. The satellite was made by Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. ... Ofek 11, the Israeli spy satellite that recently took off to a rocky start, ... "We don’t tend to speak of the condition of Defense Ministry satellites, for better or worse," said Amnon Harari, the head of the Defense Ministry's space administration.