After the Israel Space Agency and NASA had signed a scientific cooperation agreement on the Beresheet2 mission, another important step towards building the spacecraft to be launched to the moon, SpaceIL, the non-profit which launched the Beresheet spacecraft, and the German Aerospace Center, DLR, signed a cooperation agreement. On the basis of this cooperation, a German-developed navigation algorithm will help the spacecraft land on the moon. The construction of the spacecraft is expected to be completed in the summer of 2025.
As part of the agreement, a unique navigation algorithm will be provided, which was developed by the German Space Agency, and which will be implemented in the Beresheet 2 navigation system. The algorithm is the result of an innovative development by the German Space Agency and will serve as a sensor during the spacecraft's orbit around the moon. As the spacecraft lands, the algorithm will assist in navigating the spacecraft by analyzing images and identifying craters on the lunar surface. This cooperation will lead to the collection and analysis of up-to-date and innovative information, and will contribute to space research in Israel, Germany, and the entire international space community.
Genesis 2: On the Way to a Long-Term Mission
The Genesis 2 mission is planned to break several records in global space history, including a double landing on the moon in one mission and a landing on the far side of the moon by a private body (to date, only China has managed to land there). Moreover, the two landing-craft (which will be launched from the mother spacecraft) will be the smallest spacecraft ever launched to land on the moon – each weighs 150 kilograms. In addition, the mother spacecraft is planned for a long-term mission of two to five years and will serve as a platform for educational and scientific activity in Israel and around the world through remote connection. This connection will allow students from different countries to participate in scientific research in deep space.
To date, SpaceIL has raised about 85% of the cost of the project, which in fact paves the way for the second Beresheet Moon mission. Most of the budget was received from a group of leading philanthropic entrepreneurs, led by the Patrick and Lina Drahi Foundation, the Morris Kahn Foundation, and the Moshal Foundation. This month we also published that the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology has decided to grant NIS 20 million to the Beresheet 2 spacecraft project.
The Genesis 2 mission joins a prominent trend of missions Moon by political, commercial, and scientific entities around the world. In 2023 alone, 23 different missions to the Moon are planned by a variety of entities, with the aim of researching, commercializing, and colonizing the Moon.
Uri Oron, Director of the Israel Space Agency at the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, stated that "the Beresheet 2 mission, led by SpaceIL, is an outstanding example of the changing field of space and the entry of private entities into humanity's fascinating journey to the Moon and other celestial bodies. The Space Agency at the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, which leads the nation’s activity in the field, is proud of the association with the SPACEIL association and the Beresheet 2 mission and is working to maximize the program’s scientific and educational potential. The cooperation emphasizes the importance that DLR sees in the mission and opens up additional possibilities for this exciting mission."
Shimon Sarid, CEO of SpaceIL, said: "We are proud to collaborate with the German space agency DLR and to be able to use the innovative algorithm developed by them, that will assist in the landing of the Beresheet 2 mission. We are excited to work together to make successful landings planned on both sides of the Moon on our challenging mission."