Weekly roundup of world briefs

SpaceX launches ‘Dror-1’ Israeli communications satellite

By JNS Staff

(JNS) — Israel’s new national communications satellite, “Dror-1,” was launched into space on Sunday morning, Israel Aerospace Industries announced.

Designed to meet Israel’s national communication needs, the Israeli-made satellite lifted off at 8 a.m. local time from Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

Weighing 4.5 tons and with an 18-meter wingspan, Dror-1 separated from its launcher approximately 40 minutes after liftoff and began independently orbiting the Earth. The satellite is expected to reach i...