SpaceIL's Beresheet spacecraft launched into Earth orbit on February 21 and executed the first space maneuver on the 24th. It is planned that he will go into lunar orbit on April 4 and limp in a week
The Israeli lunar spacecraft Beresheet, which launched on February 21 on the SpaceX Falcon 9, launched the main engine for the first time on February 24. The 30-second maneuver was carried out at an altitude of 69,400 km from the Earth. When firing the engine tried to take into account the problems identified in the star trackers after launch.
In the coming weeks, Beresheet will conduct some more firing to push the perigee point (furthest from Earth) closer to the Moon. The second maneuver according to plan follows February 25th. If all goes well, the probe will arrive at lunar orbit on April 4 and in a week will descend to the surface. The lander will do a little scientific work during a 2-day mission on the surface. But the main goal is to promote the space program of Israel and to inspire the younger generation to scientific achievements. Beresheet also seeks to prove that serious breakthroughs can be made with relatively cheap technology. The total cost of the mission, including the launch, was $ 100 million.
Beresheet is a joint project of the non-profit group SpaceIL and Israel Aerospace Industries. SpaceIL began operations as a competitor in the Google Lunar X Prize contest, where the winner received $ 30 million for sending and securely landing the apparatus on the moon. The rover also had to drive 500 m on the surface and return the pictures. The competition ended last year without a winner, but SpaceIL decided to continue development.
