[ Update 2: The final image returned from Beresheet as it came down the lunar surface:
Update 3:30 pm EDT: Unfortunately, Beresheet failed to make a soft landing. The descent was going as planned but then the main engine cut off and could not be restarted before it was too late.
The good news is that a low-cost privately funded and designed lunar project successfully for the first time reached the Moon’s surface after successfully going into lunar orbit, also a first for a private project.
The spacecraft made a selfie made during the descent:
]
Today Israel’s SpaceIL team plans to send the Beresheet (which translates to “genesis” or “in the beginning”) spacecraft from its orbit around the Moon down to the surface for a soft (we hope) landing. The de-orbit operation will start at 22:05 Israeli time (UTC+03:00) or 04:05 in Tokyo, 05:05 in Sydney,12:05 in Los Angeles, 14:05 in Mexico City, 15:05 in New York, 16:05 in Rio, 20:05 in London, 21:05 in Paris. The landing should happen about 20 minutes later.
A live webcast of the landing will begin about 20 minutes before de-orbiting begins:
Updates are available at Israel To The Moon (@TeamSpaceIL) | Twitter.
Here is a SpaceIL video about the landing:
More info at
- Privately-funded Israeli probe set for daring moon landing attempt – Spaceflight Now
- Israel’s Beresheet spacecraft to attempt Moon landing – BBC News
- Israeli Beresheet Spacecraft to Attempt Historic Moon Landing Today! Watch Live | Space.com
- Beresheet is about to Land on the Moon | The Planetary Society
- Beresheet | The Planetary Society
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First on the Moon: The Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Experience