Beresheet lunar lander
"Beresheet" is the Israeli lunar lander was launched from Cape Canaveral on board of a Space-X Falcon 9 rocket on 22 February 2019. Its name refers to the first week of the Torah and translates to "The Beginning." The naming is apt as the project represents a new beginning – in two respects. It will not only be Israel's first moon landing, but it is also the first entirely privately initiated and financed moon mission ever.
The idea behind Beresheet was first sparked by a competition: the Google Lunar X Prize, launched in 2007. Google's call out was directed exclusively at private competitors to design a landing robot for the moon by the end of March 2018. It should be able to travel 500 meters (1640 feet) on the moon and send high-resolution video images back to Earth.
Although none of the 34 teams won the prize (because Google didn't trust anyone to build the robot in the given time) the Israeli applicant, SpaceIL, was not deterred.SpaceIL is a non-profit organization that promotes educational programs in research and technology. It is financed by donations from individual private sponsors, but also cooperates with the Israeli Space Agency (ISA).
The Space IL team, founded by engineers Yariv Bash, Kfir Damari and Yonatan Winetraub, designed a very unusual method of locomotion for their lander: to travel the required 500 meters, Beresheet simply jumps with the help of a small rocket engine. Given the low gravitational pull on the moon, jumping probably won't be too much of a challenge. And SpaceIL undoubtedly has the ability to transmit high-resolution videos and images.
But the builders of Beresheet also included something special in their design: a time capsule. The time capsule contains three digital storage discs with hundreds of files. Israel's Declaration of Independence, its national anthem, Hebrew songs, the Traveller's Prayer, are all included, as well as drawings by children.
The probe will also be scientifically integrated into existing research projects. For example, Beresheet has a magnetometer on board which will transmit data to the NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
Above all, however, SpaceIL is about getting young people excited about space exploration, technology and engineering. This is one of the reasons why the lighthouse project is taking place in time for the anniversary of the first moon landing. July 21st marks the 50th anniversary of NASA astronaut Neil Armstrong first setting foot on the moon.
On 11 April 2019 the landing process suffered some glitches when the main engine cut out and mission control lost communication. The engine later reactivated but not in time to slow the craft.
SpaceIL announced plans for the Beresheet 2 mission with a statement from Morris Khan, the Israeli entrepreneur who put up millions toward financing the first lander. Khan cited the worldwide support, encouragement and excitement for the first mission, and said SpaceIL would build a new spacecraft and try again for a moon landing. "We are going to complete the mission," he said.
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