Israeli scientists making final preparations for the country’s first-ever moon mission met with President Reuven Rivlin this afternoon ahead of Thursday’s historic launch.
Israel’s Beresheet lunar lander will be launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Thursday, which if successful, will become the first privately funded mission to launch from Earth and land on the moon.
Scientists from SpaceIL, the nonprofit organization behind the launch, presented Rivlin with a replica of the lunar lander at his Jerusalem residence.
“This is a historic moment. In a few days, the first Israeli spacecraft will be sent to the moon,” he says in a statement. “Bereishit will make history!”
“This project is of the greatest national importance. It is a national project!” Rivlin says.
The cost of the project is some $95 million (84 million euros), with private philanthropists providing funding. SpaceIL has also partnered with state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries, one of Israel’s largest defense firms.
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Sunday, February 17, 2019
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