Israeli satellite to secure Rio Olympics

An Israeli high-resolution imaging satellite will strengthen security during the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games to take place in Rio in August and September.

The announcement was made last week by Brazilian Defense Minister Raul Jungmann, who said the satellite will allow very detailed inspections of the city during the sporting events, the G1 news portal reported on Friday.

“This is an Israeli satellite at a low Earth orbit altitude, capable of capturing high-resolution images of up to 50 centimeters in an area of 450 kilometers, thus enabling the identification of objects, people, cars, and goods,” Jungmann told local media.

The Eros-B satellite will be used on an experimental basis for six months as a security complement and, in the future, will support in border surveillance, added the minister.

“Brazil has no need to worry because we have been in touch with the world’s best intelligence agencies and we will bring unique innovations to the Games,” Jungmann added. “We’ll have an international intelligence center to host 100 nations and their own intelligence centers, which is unprecedented.”

— JTA

An aerial view of the Rio 2016 Olympic Park, which will be secured in part by an Israeli high-resolution imaging satellite. (Courtesy Rio 2016 via JTA)