Israel Selects Consortium to Establish National Space R&D Laboratory

Our Bureau - : Jan 7, 2026 - : 6:44 pm

Israel has selected a consortium that includes ImageSat International to establish and operate a national research-and-development space laboratory aimed at accelerating the development of domestic space technologies. The decision was made by the Israel Space Agency, operating under the Ministry...

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The decision was made by the Israel Space Agency, operating under the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, together with the Israel Innovation Authority. The programme is intended to give Israeli start-ups and research institutions direct access to in-orbit testing capabilities that are typically difficult and costly to obtain.

The selected group, known as the Access to Space consortium, is led by Creation Space and brings together industry and academia, including the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

Government funding and scope

The consortium is expected to receive government participation worth approximately $16 million, including around $10.5 million in direct grants. The funding will support the establishment and multi-year operation of the laboratory, which will function as a national platform for experimental space missions.

According to programme details, the laboratory will allow Israeli developers to test new technologies in orbit through the launch of dedicated experimental payloads. These payloads will fly aboard satellites supplied and operated by ImageSat International, which will be responsible for spacecraft integration, launch coordination and on-orbit operations.

In addition to flight opportunities, the laboratory will provide ground-based test infrastructure, engineering support and assistance with regulatory and licensing processes. The aim is to lower entry barriers for early-stage companies and research teams seeking to validate space technologies under real operational conditions.

Expanding access to space testing

Israeli space start-ups have traditionally relied on foreign platforms or limited ride-share opportunities to demonstrate new technologies in orbit. The new laboratory is designed to create a domestic pathway for space qualification, enabling faster iteration cycles and closer collaboration between industry, academia and government.

Areas expected to benefit include satellite subsystems, sensors, communications payloads, space situational awareness technologies and data-processing applications. By offering a structured environment for

demonstrations, the programme is intended to support both civilian and security-related space innovation.

ImageSat’s role

ImageSat International will provide the space segment for the laboratory’s activities, drawing on its experience in operating Earth observation satellites and intelligence systems. The company designs and operates its own satellite platforms and ground infrastructure, which will be used to host experimental payloads developed under the programme.

The company said its role will focus on providing the technical framework needed to move experiments from the laboratory to orbit, including satellite integration, mission planning and operational support.

National space strategy context

The establishment of the laboratory reflects a broader effort by Israel to strengthen its domestic space ecosystem and maintain technological independence in a sector that is becoming increasingly competitive and strategically sensitive.

Israel has long been active in satellite development, particularly in Earth observation and defence-related applications, but officials have acknowledged the need to broaden participation beyond a small number of established players. By creating a shared national infrastructure, policymakers aim to encourage

innovation from universities and smaller companies that may lack access to flight opportunities.

The programme also aligns with international trends, as countries seek to shorten development timelines and reduce reliance on foreign launch and testing services.

Next steps

Work on setting up the laboratory is expected to begin following the formal allocation of funds and completion of contractual arrangements. Initial demonstration missions are anticipated once payload selection processes are finalised and satellite integration schedules are defined.

If successful, the initiative could become a long-term fixture in Israel’s space research landscape, providing regular access to orbit for experimental technologies and supporting the growth of a new generation of space companies

Imagesat-international / Space-rd-laboratory / Israel-space-agency /

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