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Over 70 licensed launch facilities now operate globally — 20 commissioned since 2020.
| Attribute | Palmachim Airbase 🇮🇱 Israel Active · Last updated 2026-06-01Trust: Operator-primaryⓘ Last verified Remove × | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | Roscosmos | Various proponents (historical: Cape York Space Agency consortium; current: speculative) | Israel Defense Forces / Israel Aerospace Industries |
| Ownership | Government | Private | Military |
| Region | 🇷🇺 Russia | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇮🇱 Israel |
| Launch pads | — | — | 1 active (classified IAF facility)as of [1] ↑ Most pads |
| Annual launches | 3-5 ↑ Most active | 0 | 1–2as of [1] |
| Max payload (LEO) | — | — | ~350 kg to retrograde LEO (Shavit-2)as of [1]Launches westward over Mediterranean due to geopolitical overflight constraints; unusual retrograde orbit ↑ Highest capacity |
| First operational launch | 2016 | 1986 | 1988-09-19as of [2]Ofeq-1 — Israel's first satellite; first nation ever to launch into retrograde orbit from a dedicated national site |
| Regulatory regime | Roscosmos (Russian federal jurisdiction, no foreign lease) | Would require Australian Space Agency launch facility licence under Space (Launches and Returns) Act 2018 | Israel Space Agency (ISA) civil oversight; Ministry of Defense controls dual-use launches and Ofeq reconnaissance program |
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