VOA News 13 August 2010
Israel's government is set to approve a plan that aims to turn the country into a space superpower.
The Jerusalem Post reported Friday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to approve plans designed to increase sales of locally made space platforms to nearly $8 billion a year.
The newspaper said the multi-year plan also includes increased spending on space research and development, focusing on mini-satellites as Israel's primary market.
The report quotes the head of the Defense Ministry's Space Division as saying Israel has the capability to carve out at least 5 percent of the international space market, estimated to total $250 billion a year.
The report said Israel is in talks with several countries and defense companies about the possibility of space collaboration.