The Israeli Space Agency strives to promote space research and space technology development as a part of the effort to promote the Israeli scientific research.

Furthermore, ISA works to strengthen the R&D relations in the field of space between Israeli researchers and researchers from abroad.

The advancement of research and development in the field of space requires the strengthening of scientific and technological knowledge centers, based on concentrating manpower with special capabilities, and in many cases it also requires significant financial investments for equipment and new and special facilities.

In order to enable the advancement and execution of work plans and development programs in this field, which strengthen and advance Israel's space-related capabilities, the Ministry has initiated, via ISA, the establishment of new knowledge centers, committing to aid in their regular budgeting.

The knowledge centers committed themselves to provide services in their specialized field of science to the entire R&D system (Israeli and worldwide), including the industrial sector. These centers will also provide scientific and technological support to ISA, and advise ISA in establishing its policy and programs for international and national activity.

The Knowledge Centers sponsored by ISA:

There are currently 3 Knowledge Centers sponsored by ISA, spread across the country, in cooperation with researchers from the Tel-AvivUniversity, in various fields.

EOSDIS

This research, headed by Prof.PinhasAlpert, is funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology as a part of the Space Scientific and Technological Infrastructure Development program. The research is at its fifth year of activity.

The junction was initiated by NASA and according to NASA's director's request, as a part of the cooperation agreement between the director of NASA and the director of ISA, signed on October 1996.

The KnowledgeCenter, or "The NASA Junction", is site that links NASA and Israeli researchers in the field of Remote Sensing, Planetary Research, and Climate and Environmental Changes.

The Junction is also integrated in NASA's global Information System: Earth Observing Science Data and Information System, which contains Remote Sensing Data from NASA and NOAA satellites, and data from other sources like meteorological RADAR and readings from meteorological stations.

The Junction is the only source in the country which focuses on collecting and preserving environmental information in Israel, which is linked to NASA, and which provides information to the scientific community and to the public in general. The Junction provides free access to NASA's data, and access for worldwide clients to data collected in Israel. This information is critical for environmental and water related research, especially in light of the drastic global environmental changes and global warming.

The Junction was established by using money from the University of Tel-Aviv and ---. On the first stage, ISA aided in operating the junction, as a part of the "Researchers Funding" program. We are now at a transformation stage that will enable the funding of the project as a knowledge center.

Knowledge Center for Cosmic Radiation

This research is headed by Dr.Gideon Bela and Prof. Lev Dorman from the University of Tel-Aviv. It is the second year the center operating. The observatory is located on mount Hermon, and is funded by Tel-AvivUniversity's Research Authority and the Lab for Data Processing in Katzerin.

The goal of the center is to monitor and forecast dangerous meteorological and space phenomena: Solar radiation storms and shockwaves between very powerful stars creating magnetic storms. These phenomena can endanger electronic systems in satellites and space shuttles, the astronauts' health, electronic and navigational systems in aircraft flying in extremely high altitudes and ground power systems.

The Cosmic Radiation Observatory named after EmilioSagara was donated by the Italian Space Agency, and it is located on Mount Hermon.

Technical Knowledge Centers on Near Earth Objects

This center headed by Dr.NoahBrosh form the University of Tel-Aviv, for the second year.

Near Earth Objects are comets or asteroids (small planets), which could, theoretically reach a close proximity to earth in their orbit. If these objects are larger than usual, close proximity could result in sever damage and even total annihilation (as in the case of the asteroid hit 65 million years, annihilating the entire dinosaur population on earth).

NEO research is conducted in several countries, and their goal is to map the objects which pose a threat and to find a solution which will enable us to eradicate it.

For this purpose, a special telescope was built in the University of Tel-Aviv's Weis Observatory located in MitzpeRamon. The telescope facilitated the discovery of several new asteroids.