The launch of an unmanned Israeli spacecraft to the moon next month is set to be a significant milestone in Israel's space activity that will elevate Israel's international status in the field.
Over the weekend, the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper published an interview with one of the project's major donors, billionaire philanthropist Morris Khan, which made no mention of the massive contribution by the Adelson Family Foundation.
The foundation, established by Dr. Miriam and Sheldon Adelson as part of their Israel philanthropy, has donated $23.9 million [taking into account funds that will in effect be transferred in 2019] to the project thus far.
The foundation is responsible for one of the most substantial contributions to the project, one that in fact allowed the project to move forward and overcome the difficulties inherent in such an ambitious initiative and continue the efforts toward the February launch of the Israeli spacecraft.
While the Yedioth Ahronoth piece mentions that Kahn and the other donors have so far invested around $100 million in the project, without making any mention of the significant contribution by the Adelson Family Foundation.
The Beresheet project is an initiative of the SpaceIL organization, of which Kahn is president and the Israel Aerospace Industries. If everything goes as planned, the Beresheet spacecraft will be launched on Feb. 13 by the Falcon 9 rocket from the SpaceX Launch and Landing Control Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Should the spacecraft make it back to Earth ahead of another Indian spacecraft that is also set to land on Earth around the same time, it would make Israel the fourth country to successfully land a spacecraft on the moon, after the U.S., Russia and China. Should the Indian spacecraft land first, we will just have to suffice with being fifth.
Israel Aerospace Industries has been a full partner in the project from Day One. Over the years, additional partners form the private, government and academic sectors have joined the effort, notably the Weizmann Institute of Science, the Israeli Space Agency, the Science and Technology Ministry and the Bezeq telecommunications company.
Dr. Miriam and Sheldon Adelson own the company that is the primary shareholder of Israel Hayom.
