|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
In a significant collaboration between Israel and Italy, the Israel Space Agency (ISA) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to work together on the Beresheet 2 mission.
The agreement, which was formalized today at the 20th Ilan Ramon International Space Conference in Tel Aviv, marks a new chapter for both nations in their space exploration efforts.
The Beresheet 2 mission, led by the Israeli non-profit SpaceIL, aims to achieve two landings on the moon, along with conducting a series of scientific experiments related to lunar mapping, soil exploration, and studying the physical phenomena of the moon’s environment.
As part of the mission, a mother spacecraft will orbit the moon for five years, providing a platform for interactive scientific research and activity both in Israel and globally.
Though the joint budget for the mission is yet to be determined, discussions are expected to set the final figure in the coming months, with initial estimates suggesting a budget of over $10 million.
The collaboration between the Israeli and Italian space agencies will also involve the development of advanced technologies, including landing sensors, communication systems, navigation, and control mechanisms.
Brig.-Gen. Uri Oron, Director General of the Israel Space Agency, highlighted Italy’s significant role in space exploration, saying, “Italy is one of the leading countries in the field of space. They have huge experience and enormous resources, investing over €1 billion each year in space.
The Italians, like few other countries, are seeking a presence on lunar missions.” He also pointed out that approximately 20 lunar missions are planned over the next seven to eight years, making participation in these missions crucial for technological, commercial, and political reasons.
Israel’s involvement in space exploration extends beyond the Beresheet 2 mission. The country is a key participant in NASA’s Artemis program, working alongside the U.S. space agency on various initiatives, including the development of spacesuit technologies by the Israeli company StemRad.
While there are no immediate plans for another Israeli astronaut to join NASA’s manned missions, Israel continues to explore additional technological contributions to the Artemis program.
The Beresheet 2 mission follows the initial Beresheet mission, which aimed to land a spacecraft on the moon as part of the Lunar X Prize competition.
Despite a crash landing in April 2019, the Beresheet mission succeeded in drawing global attention to Israel’s space ambitions.
Although the crash prevented a successful landing, the mission’s educational initiatives, particularly in schools, were considered a resounding success. It also made Israel the seventh country to successfully send a spacecraft to the moon.
After the failure of the first mission, plans for Beresheet 2 were quickly set in motion, with initial financial backing from key supporters such as the Ministry of Science, the Blavatnik Family Foundation, and the Israel Space Agency. By 2021, SpaceIL had raised $70 million for the project, setting the stage for the next ambitious lunar mission.
The renewed interest in the moon, both for scientific exploration and geopolitical competition, has brought new momentum to lunar missions.
The Artemis program, spearheaded by NASA, along with non-partners like China and Russia, has reignited global focus on the moon as a target for space exploration, positioning the Beresheet 2 mission as a key player in this new era of lunar exploration.