First Israeli lunar spacecraft set to land on moon13 February 2019
At a historic press conference on 12 July at Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)’s Space division in Yehud, Israel, nonprofit SpaceIL and IAI announced a lunar mission to launch from Cape Canaveral, FL/USA, this December, and land on the moon on February 2019. A final launch date will be announced closer to the event. The lunar landing will culminate eight years of intensive collaboration between SpaceIL and IAI, and will make Israel the fourth country after the US, China and Russia to reach the moon. The spacecraft will be launched as a secondary payload on a Space X FALCON 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, FL/USA, and its journey to the moon will last about two months, ending on its expected landing date.
The Israeli lunar spacecraft will be the smallest to land on the moon, weighing only 1,322lbs (600 kilogrammes). Approximately U$88 million (NIS320 million) has been invested in the spacecraft’s development and construction, mostly from private donors, headed by SpaceIL President Morris Kahn, who donated about $27 million (NIS100 million).
“After eight challenging years, I am filled with pride that the first Israeli spacecraft, which is in its final construction and testing phases, will soon be making its way to the moon,” Mr. Kahn, said. “I have experienced numerous challenges in my life, but this was the greatest challenge of all. This is a huge achievement for us – SpaceIL – and for our partners, Israel Aerospace Industries, who have been with us since day 1. The launch of the first Israeli spacecraft will fill Israel, in its 70th year, with pride. It is a national accomplishment that will put u on the world’s space map.”
Although this is an historic national achievement, it is essentially a private initiative by the three SpaceIL founders – Yariv Bash, Kfir Damari and Yonatan Winetraub – who strived to fulfill the dream of reaching the moon, and registered for the challenging Google Lunar XPRIZE competition. Since SpaceIL’s establishment, the mission of landing an Israeli spacecraft on the moon has become a national project embodying educational values, funded by donors such as Dr. Miriam and Mr. Sheldon Adelson, Mr. Sammy Sagol, Mrs. Lynn Schusterman, Mr. Steven Grand and others. Kahn, a businessman and philanthropist, took it upon himself to lead this project and bring it to its completion, and regards it as his personal mission.
IAI, which is the home of Israel’s space activity, has been a full partner in this project from its inception. Over the years, additional partners from the private sector, from government companies and from the academia have joined as well. The most prominent among these are Weizmann Institute of Science; Israel Space Agency; the Ministry of Science, Technology and Space; Bezeq and others.
Upon its landing on 13 February 2019, the spacecraft, carrying the Israeli flag, will begin taking photos and video of the landing site and will measure the moon’s magnetic field as part of a scientific experiment conducted in collaboration with Weizmann Institute. The data will be transmitted to the IAI control room during the two days following the landing.
SpaceIL aims to set in motion an “Apollo effect” in Israel: To encourage the next generation of Israeli children to choose to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM); to change their perception of these subjects; to generate a sense of capability; and to allow them to dream big dreams even in our small country. The non-profit aims to change the discourse in Israel and to encourage boys and girls to regard science, engineering, technology and math as exciting opportunities for their future. In recent years, SpaceIL has ignited the imagination of about 900,000 children nationwide, with the help of a broad network of volunteers.
