Beresheet 2

Beresheet 2 is a planned private space mission intended to land a spacecraft on the Moon in 2024.

Beresheet 2
Websitewww.spaceil.com
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftBeresheet 2
Spacecraft typeLunar lander and orbiter
ManufacturerSpaceIL
Firefly Aerospace (lander)
Start of mission
Launch date2024 (planned) [1]
 

History

The mission was announced by the SpaceIL voluntary association, shortly after the conclusion of the first Beresheet mission in April 2019.[2] It was announced on 26 June 2019, that the mission will not target the Moon, and instead it will be to another undisclosed object.[3][4] On 25 November 2019, it was simultaneously announced that the Moon would indeed be the target of Beresheet 2, and that SpaceIL plans to send another lander to Mars.[5][6]

On 16 January 2020, SpaceIL announced that they have officially started to work on Beresheet 2 as they were given the first million dollar funding for the spacecraft. On 5 February 2020, Shimon Sarid was appointed as CEO of SpaceIL. In this role Sarid will lead the Beresheet 2 project.[7] In July 2020, engineer Yoav Heichal, former chief engineer of Better Place Ltd, has joined the program as structural engineer. On 9 December 2020, SpaceIL announced that the Beresheet 2 Moon mission will launch in 2024, and will consist of an orbiter and two landers.

It will have a budget of US$100 million, similar to that of Beresheet 1, and will include more international collaboration, with the United Arab Emirates as one of seven countries expressing interest.[1]

The Beresheet2 program raised in July 2021 70 million dollars from a group of entrepreneur-philanthropists, Patrick & Lina Drahi family foundation, Morris Kahn and the Moshal Space Foundation.

At World Space Week in Dubai, in October 2021, Israel and the UAE ministers of science and technology announced plans for cooperation on the mission. Said Kahn to the Global Investment Forum in Dubai, "It would be wonderful if we could develop a space program that would be a combination of Israel and the Arab world, "I would welcome it – if it fits in with the program the Emirates have. They have an ambitious program".[8]

References
  1. "Israel launches second bid to put a lander on the moon; UAE may join". The Times of Israel. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  2. Gough, Evan (16 April 2019). "Despite the Crash, SpaceIL is Going Back to the Moon with Beresheet 2". Universe Today.
  3. SpaceIL: Beresheet won't attempt moon landing, will seek another challenge Eytan Halon and Hagay Hacohen, The Jerusalem Post 26 June 2019
  4. Israeli team will no longer send a second spacecraft to the Moon Natt Garun The Verge 26 June 2019
  5. Keyser, Zachary (28 November 2019). "SpaceIL heading back to space, mission to Mars on the horizon". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  6. Jerenberg, Batya (25 November 2019). "SpaceIL reveals new moon mission set for 2022, with Mars attempt in works". World Israel News. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  7. SpaceIL announces new CEO Shimon Sarid to lead Beresheet 2 project Zachary Keyser, The Jerusalem Post 5 February 2020
  8. "Israel, UAE sign historic space agreement". The Jerusalem Post. 21 October 2021.
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