Astronomy:Beresheet 2
| Website | www |
|---|---|
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Beresheet 2 |
| Spacecraft type | Lunar landers and orbiter |
| Manufacturer | SpaceIL Firefly Aerospace (lander) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | Mission suspended. Launch was planned for 2025[1] |
Beresheet 2 is a proposed private space mission intended to land two spacecraft on the Moon. Upon reaching the Moon, the spacecraft would split into three: an orbiter and two landers that would be released for landing at different locations on the Moon. The orbiter would continue to orbit the Moon on a long-term multi-year mission. This would be the first-ever dual-lander deployment mission, with the smallest landers to ever soft-land on the Moon.[1] It would have a budget of US$100 million, similar to that of Beresheet, and would include more international collaboration, with the United Arab Emirates and Italy among countries expressing interest.[2][3] The project was planned to include a substantial component of educational activities and an outreach program for the public in the partnering countries. As of 2025, the mission was suspended due to lack of funding.[4]
History
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The mission was announced by the SpaceIL voluntary association, shortly after the conclusion of the first Beresheet mission in April 2019.[5] It was announced on 26 June 2019, that the mission will not target the Moon, and instead it will be to another undisclosed object.[6][7] 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.[8][9]
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 would lead the Beresheet 2 project.[10] In July 2020, engineer Yoav Heichal, former chief engineer of Better Place Ltd, has joined the program as a structural engineer. The program was officially launched by Israel's former president, Reuven Rivlin, on 9 December 2020 and announced that the Beresheet 2 Moon mission would launch in 2024, consisting of an orbiter and two landers.[11] SpacelL was leading the program with the support of the Israel Space Agency.[12]
In July 2021, the Beresheet 2 program raised 70 million dollars from a group of donors: the Patrick & Lina Drahi family foundation, Morris Kahn, and the Moshal Space Foundation.[13] 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.[14] In January 2025, Israel Space Agency and Italian Space Agency signed a memorandum of understanding for collaboration on the mission, but any joint budget for the mission had not been decided.[3]
In April 2025, SpaceIL has suspended the work on the Beresheet 2 Moon mission after failing to secure funding.[4][15]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Ramon.Space and Lulav Space Partner to Navigate Space IL's Next Two Lunar Landings". Ramon.Space (Press release). 7 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
- ↑ "Israel launches second bid to put a lander on the moon; UAE may join". 9 December 2020. https://www.timesofisrael.com/beresheet-2-israel-launches-plan-for-second-moon-shot-in-2024-uae-may-join/.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "SpaceIL, Italian Space Agency to cooperate on Beresheet 2 | The Jerusalem Post" (in en). 2025-01-28. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-839676.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "SpaceIL Suspends Beresheet 2 Lunar Mission Project" (in en-US). 2025-04-05. https://davidson.weizmann.ac.il/en/online/sciencenews/spaceil-suspends-beresheet-2-lunar-mission-project.
- ↑ Gough, Evan (16 April 2019). "Despite the Crash, SpaceIL is Going Back to the Moon with Beresheet 2". Universe Today. https://www.universetoday.com/141996.
- ↑ SpaceIL: Beresheet won't attempt moon landing, will seek another challenge Eytan Halon and Hagay Hacohen, The Jerusalem Post 26 June 2019
- ↑ Israeli team will no longer send a second spacecraft to the Moon Natt Garun The Verge 26 June 2019
- ↑ Keyser, Zachary (2019-11-28). "SpaceIL heading back to space, mission to Mars on the horizon". https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/SpaceIL-co-founder-Beresheet-II-ready-for-lift-off-in-three-years-Mars-on-the-horizon-608939.
- ↑ Jerenberg, Batya (2019-11-25). "SpaceIL reveals new moon mission set for 2022, with Mars attempt in works". https://worldisraelnews.com/spaceil-reveals-new-moon-mission-set-for-2022-with-mars-attempt-in-works/.
- ↑ SpaceIL announces new CEO Shimon Sarid to lead Beresheet 2 project Zachary Keyser, The Jerusalem Post 5 February 2020
- ↑ Howell, Elizabeth (December 12, 2020). "Israel will aim for the moon again in 2024 with Beresheet 2 mission". https://www.space.com/israel-announces-beresheet-2-moon-mission-2024.
- ↑ "ISA continues to support the Beresheet2 Lunar Mission". May 15, 2023. https://www.space.gov.il/en/news-space/133861.
- ↑ "SpaceIL obtains $70 million for Beresheet 2 Moon mission". Jerusalem Post. July 11, 2021. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/spaceil-obtains-70-million-for-beresheet-2-moon-mission-673477.
- ↑ "Israel, UAE sign historic space agreement". The Jerusalem Post. 21 October 2021. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/israel-uae-sign-historic-space-agreement-682672.
- ↑ "Beresheet 2 lunar mission loses chief donors due to economic and social situation in Israel" (in en). 2023-05-14. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bjec1170nn.
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