The Israeli spacecraft Beresheet has taken the ultimate selfie on its roundabout journey to the moon, some two weeks after blasting off from Earth.
Organizers for the privately funded mission released the photo Tuesday showing Beresheet, Hebrew for Genesis, orbiting some 23,400 miles (37,600 kilometers) away, with the entire Earth as the stunning Apollo-style backdrop. A plaque bearing the Israeli national flag reads, in English, "Small Country, Big Dreams," and, in Hebrew, "Am Israel hai" (the people of Israel lives).
Australia easily stands out in the photo.
The spacecraft is shooting for a moon landing April 11. It rocketed from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Feb. 21 and has been circling Earth in ever bigger loops.
Despite some early problems, Beresheet should be close enough to enter lunar orbit in early April. A touchdown would make Israel the fourth country to pull off a moon landing.
The Beresheet mission originally was part of the Google Lunar XPrize competition and even made the final cut before the contest ended last year without a winner.
The organizers decided to press ahead on their own, and the project was financed largely by Dr. Miriam and Sheldon Adelson together with SpaceIL president and billionaire high-tech developer Morris Kahn, as well as other donors from around the world.
The idea of having the phrase "the people of Israel lives" displayed by the spacecraft originated with Dr. Adelson, who wanted to ensure that the spacecraft would carry a symbolic message that represents modern-day Israel, Zionism and the history of the Jewish people.
The Adelson family owns the company that is the primary shareholder in Israel Hayom. Dr. Miriam Adelson is the publisher of Israel Hayom.
