Israeli Rocket Technology Will Help European Spacecraft Touch Down on Mars

(Times of Israel) David Shamah - When the newly-launched European-Russian ExoMars spacecraft touches down on Mars in 2018, the propulsion system that will enable its gentle landing was developed by Rafael, the Israeli company that developed the Iron Dome missile defense system. According to Zvi Zuckerman, a Rafael engineer who helped develop the system, the European Space Agency, which is sponsoring the mission along with Russian space agency Roscosmos, chose Rafael's propulsion system "because our propulsion tanks are lighter, and use cleaner fuel," which ensures a smoother landing. Rafael's propulsion modules have been used in dozens of satellites.


2016-03-18 00:00:00

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