Israel about to launch its fifth communication satellite into space

Israel is about to launch an additional satellite into orbit. The communications satellite "Amos 4," will join the rest of the Israeli satellites that are circling the globe. It will be launched from the Russian operated Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

"Amos 4" arrived at the Kazakh space center several weeks ago and is currently going through the final stages of preparations before being launched into space on board a "Zenit" –type rocket.

The communications satellite will provide broadband broadcast to Russia, India, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. A Russian website published photos of the preparations on Saturday showing the docking of the satellite on its carrying rocket.

Up to this day, Israel has launched four communication satellites into orbit: "Amos 1," Israel's first communications satellite, was launched in 1996, going out of service over the last few years. "Amos 2" was launched in 2003. It is currently servicing clients in the Middle East, Europe and the east coast of the United States.

In 2008, an additional satellite "Amos 3" was launched. It was joined in 2011 by "Amos 5," which was the first satellite Israeli satellite operator Spacecom purchased from the Russian JSC Information Satellite Systems and not from Israel's Israel Aerospace Industries.