Israel’s most advanced communications satellite, dubbed Dror-1, was successfully launched into space from Cape Canaveral in the United States on Sunday.

The satellite, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries, was launched into orbit on a Falcon 9 two-stage rocket, manufactured by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

According to IAI, the satellite weighs 4.5 tons and spans a total of 17.8 meters (58 feet) with its solar panels fully opened up. The pair of reception antennas, or dishes, each spans 2.8 meters, the largest in an Israeli satellite.

The satellite is set to serve Israel’s communication needs for the next 15 years.

The first stage of the booster, which has now been used 13 times, landed back on Earth on a barge — also known as an autonomous spaceport drone ship — dubbed “Just Read the Instructions,” off the coast of Cape Canaveral.

The second stage of the rocket pushed the satellite deeper into space, as the payload canister opened. Over the following day, the satellite is set to open up its solar panels and dishes and begin to maneuver into its fixed position relative to Earth.

IAI said it would take the satellite some two weeks to reach the fixed position, at an altitude of around 36,000 kilometers (22,000 miles), after several orbits around the Earth.

“The satellite completed the launch process, and initial readings received from it indicate it is functioning properly,” IAI said in a statement.

“In the coming weeks, as the satellite is positioned in orbit around the Earth, IAI engineers will conduct a series of tests to verify its functionality, after which it will begin its years-long mission in space as Israel’s national communications satellite,” the company said.

Speaking at the launch event, which The Times of Israel and other media attended, IAI’s CEO Boaz Levy said the Dror-1 was “the most advanced communications satellite ever built in Israel, with the goal of preserving this national-strategic capability in the country and providing Israel with vital satellite communications capabilities for years to come.”

“Israel’s space program has turned from vision to reality thanks to the creativity and innovation of IAI employees, who have developed over the years complex and groundbreaking technologies,” Levy said.

IAI has led Israel’s space program since 1988 with the launch of the first satellite, Ofek-1. IAI has developed, manufactured, and launched numerous satellites, both for communication and observation, for military, scientific, and civilian purposes.