The Weizmann Institute of Science has chosen a local supplier to build a space telescope.
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On Wednesday, Elbit Systems Ltd. announced it had won a roughly $16 million contract to supply a telescope to the institute under Israel's Ultraviolet Transient Astronomy Satellite (ULTRASAT) program to observe and research deep space.
The ULTRASAT program is jointly managed and funded by the Weizmann Institute of Science and the Israeli Space Agency and is carried out in association with Germany's DESY research center.
Elbit Systems will develop, manufacture and integrate a highly sensitive, wide field of view (200 square degree) ultraviolet space telescope designed to help scientists understand the creation of heavy elements, black holes and gravitational waves and discover astronomical phenomena such as supernovas (star explosions).
Elbit Systems has provided space cameras, satellites and other electronic instruments of its production to space programs in Israel, the US, Europe, South Korea and Brazil.
The Weizmann Institute contract will be performed over a period of two years.
Oren Sabag, General Manager of Elbit Systems ISTAR & EW, commented: "We are proud to take part in this scientific endeavor lending our capabilities and experience to the effort to better understand nature."
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