Israel has successfully launched a satellite which will provide internet, TV and mobile services to the Middle East and Africa.
The Amos-17 satellite was launched at 19:23 local time [23:23 GMT] yesterday from Cape Canaveral in Florida, USA.
The satellite was carried into space by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and separated successfully, despite the launch being delayed for several days after a suspected faulty valve was discovered during testing.
It will now spend the next two weeks travelling gradually to 36,000 kilometres above the earth, at which height it will orbit the planet.
The satellite was built by aerospace giant Boeing and designed by Israel-based company Spacecom. Amos-17 will now provide services to TV operators, internet and telephone providers in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as governments and private data companies
