The Beresheet2 mission, due to launch in 2025, underscores Israel’s ambition to return to the moon
The Israel Space Agency on Wednesday signed an agreement with NASA for full cooperation on Israel’s upcoming Beresheet2 lunar mission. The two organizations had already worked together on the first Beresheet mission in 2019. Launched in February 2019, the spacecraft had managed to reach lunar orbit before crashing while attempting to land on the moon.
The Beresheet2 mission, expected to launch in 2025, underscores Israel’s ambitions to return to the moon. The mission consists of three spacecraft: an orbiter that will remain in space and two landers that will fly to the lunar surface. NASA will provide SpaceIL and the Israel Space Agency with their advanced communications systems, essential for tracking the spacecraft during the critical phase of the mission. “We need NASA equipment to better understand the situation and to transmit data,” said the head of SpaceIL.
One of the landers will land on the far side of the moon with NASA instruments on board to take radiation readings. “Radiation is very important in space exploration, especially in space, for the survival of equipment and astronauts,” Sarid said, stressing the importance of measuring its levels on the moon. In return, Israel will freely share with NASA the data it collects with its own instruments.
“The Beresheet project is the pride of Israel’s cutting-edge science and technology,” said Israel Science Minister Ofir Akunis at the signing. “The collaboration with NASA and the Israel Space Agency is further evidence of the excellent relationship between Israel and the United States and the intensification of cooperation on scientific and technological issues.” The United States isn’t the only one participating in the Beresheet2 mission: last year, SpaceIL signed a partnership with the United Arab Emirates to collaborate on the mission.
The signing of the agreement between the Israel Space Agency and NASA took place as part of the 18th annual Ilan Ramon International Space Conference. This conference is held annually to commemorate Ilan Ramon, Israel’s first-ever astronaut who died in the 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. Israel has since successfully launched another astronaut, Eytan Stibbe.