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Israel plans new moonshot after maiden mission fails

SpaceIL president and high-tech billionaire Morris Kahn declares launch of "Beresheet 2" lunar mission. Beresheet 2 task force to convene on Sunday. "We began something that we shall complete and we will place our flag on the moon," Kahn says.

by  Reuters and Israel Hayom Staff
Published on  04-14-2019 07:53
Last modified: 05-28-2019 13:10
Israeli spacecraft crash lands on moon's surfaceSpaceIL

Beresheet captures a "selfie" with the Israeli flag during its lunar descent | Photo: SpaceIL

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The aerospace company behind Israel's failed first moonshot said on Saturday it would pursue a second mission with funds raised from private donors and the public.

The spacecraft Beresheet, built by non-profit SpaceIL and state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries, crashed on its final descent on Thursday, dashing Israel's hope of becoming the fourth country to manage a controlled lunar landing.

"I have had time to think, over the weekend, about what happened, and given all of the encouragement I got, and the support from people all over the world I have come tonight to announce a new project – Beresheet 2," SpaceIL president and high-tech billionaire Morris Kahn told Israel's Channel 12 TV.

The Google Lunar X Prize Competition, which offered $20 million for the first privately funded venture to make it to the moon, is what first drove SpaceIL to get Beresheet off the ground.

Beresheet made the final cut, but after several deadline extensions, the competition ended last year without a winner.

SpaceIL pressed on with its dream, convinced the mission would help inspire Israel's next generation to study science and engineering.

The project – which cost around 100 million dollars – was financed largely by philanthropists Dr. Miriam and Sheldon Adelson together with SpaceIL President Morris Kahn, as well as other donors from around the world.

Private donors were already pledging funds for the new project, Kahn said, but he added that money should come from the public for "a project of the people of Israel".

"We will not rely on government support," he said.

The Beresheet 2 task force would convene on Sunday, he said: "We began something that we shall complete, and we will place our flag on the moon."

IAI said in a statement it would be happy to be part of further space missions in partnership with SpaceIL under Kahn's leadership."

So far, only three nations have succeeded in carrying out a controlled landing on the lunar surface – the United States, the Soviet Union and China.

Who will be the 4th country to land on the moon? #Israel or #India? @owenalterman tells @talexander_i24: #Beresheet2 pic.twitter.com/WYtJo039dq

— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) 14 באפריל 2019

Launched from Cape Canaveral on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket two months ago, Beresheet – Hebrew for "Genesis" or "In the beginning" – would have been the first craft to land on the moon that was not the product of a government program.

The Adelson family owns the company that is the primary shareholder in Israel Hayom. Dr. Miriam Adelson is the publisher of Israel Hayom.

Tags: BeresheetcrashmoonSpacespacecraft

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