Israel’s civilian space activity reaches beyond national satellites: companies develop spacecraft components and services, universities conduct space science, and students build nanosatellites. The Israel Space Agency supports applied research and commercial development and runs education programs that connect classrooms with real satellite projects.
Companies and research supported by the agency
The Israel Space Agency says more than 60 space companies operate in Israel, working in areas including satellites, ground stations, materials, propulsion, communications, and data processing. It supports research and development through company investment tracks and an Earth & Beyond incubator run with the Israel Innovation Authority. These are program descriptions rather than proof of particular job totals or economic effects. See the agency’s industry and research overview.
Academic grants support work on Earth observation, astronomy, planetary science, nanosatellites, and spacecraft instruments. Examples on the agency’s research page include the VENμS Earth-observation satellite, DIDO-3, and BGUSAT, a university nanosatellite mission. The page also describes an Israeli-French cloud-observation project and research collaborations with foreign agencies. These examples show the range of work; individual mission objectives vary. The research and development directory lists supported projects.
TEVEL gives students practical satellite experience
In the TEVEL program, school students build nanosatellites and learn to communicate with them in orbit. TEVEL 2 expanded the model: nine satellites measuring 10 by 10 by 11.3 centimeters were built by high school students in research centers established by Tel Aviv University. They launched together from Vandenberg Space Force Base on March 16, 2025, and are intended to measure cosmic radiation. The Israel Space Agency’s project report names the participating communities and describes the satellite cluster.
The agency also supports public observatories, educator communities, school activities, and the Ilan Ramon Space Olympiad. These programs make science and engineering part of the space sector’s talent pipeline. The space program overview explains how civilian research relates to the national program; Shavit and Ofek covers the defense satellite track.