Offeq

OFFEQ SATELLITE
STATE MEDAL 5764/2004
14th and the last in the “Airplanes that Made History” Series

This series of medals commemorates the airplanes of the Israeli Air Force. Each one made its mark on the history of the country and is associated with its specific period of operation. The planes have been reproduced in precise detail on the medals, designed by Eliezer Weishoff, in consultation with the Public Committee headed by the former Commander of the Air Force, Major General Eitan Ben Eliahu.
The last medal in the series is dedicated to the Israel Aircraft Industry and the Offeq Satellite.
At the beginning of the 80s' the Israeli Defense System decided to embark upon the development of an Intelligence Satellite. A special team from the Ministry of Defense, together with experts from the Israel Aircraft Industry and Electronics and Locomotion Plants' decided to study the development of different systems.
In September 1988, the first Satellite was launched into Space and years later, the second. The missions of both were to test the plans and systems.
The third Satellite, Offeq 3, was the first operational Satellite. It was launched into Space in April 1995 and served for over three years in photography of selected sites of the globe.
While this project was under the attention of the Information Service of the IDF, the Air force assumed responsibility in 1998 in all that concerned the exploitation of
Space and then, it has determined the multi-branched policies in this domain.
From the Offeq Satellite, the commercial E.R.O.S. (Earth Resources Observation) Satellite was developed' which was launched into Space in December 2000 and this also serves the Defense System of Israel.

Obverse: Offeq Satellite in orbit around the Earth and beside it, the launching rocket. Below it is a view of the Earth from a satellite picture. Along the upper-left border is the inscription "Offeq" in Hebrew and English.

Reverse: A stylized design of a bird in flight with the hills of Jerusalem above it and the Israeli Air Force emblem below it; the verse “HIS WINGS SHALL FILL THE BREADTH OF THY LAND” (Isaiah 8) is inscribed in Hebrew along the upper border of the medal and in English along the lower border. The silver/925 proof medal is with gold-plated sterling silver insert and the bronze proof medal is with sterling silver insert.

Edge: State emblem with the words "STATE OF ISRAEL" inscribed in Hebrew on the right and in English on the left; the serial number and metal.

Designer: Eliezer Weishoff.

Engraving: Romania.

Mint:
Bronze and Silver Medals: Romania.
Gold Medal: The Government Mint, Israel.