Israel's first lunar mission, the Beresheet spacecraft, crashed during its final descent to the Moon's surface after experiencing main engine failure and communication loss at an altitude of 149 meters.

Israel's ambitious dream of joining the elite group of nations to achieve a successful Moon landing faced a dramatic setback on April 11, 2019. The Beresheet spacecraft, developed by SpaceIL and Israel Aerospace Industries, made history as Israel's first lunar mission and the first privately funded lunar landing attempt.

The $100 million spacecraft came tantalizingly close to its goal but experienced technical difficulties during its final descent. Just moments before its scheduled touchdown in the Sea of Serenity, Beresheet's main engine failed and communication was lost, resulting in a crash landing on the lunar surface. While the mission didn't achieve its primary objective of a soft landing, it still marked several significant milestones in space exploration and demonstrated the growing capabilities of private space ventures.

SpaceIL initiated the Beresheet mission in 2019 as Israel's first venture to land a spacecraft on the lunar surface. The $100 million project marked a significant milestone as the first privately funded lunar landing attempt.

The mission's key objectives included:

• Advancing Israel's space technology capabilities
• Landing the first privately funded spacecraft on the Moon
• Conducting magnetic field measurements of lunar rocks
• Inspiring future generations through space exploration

The Beresheet spacecraft specifications include:

Feature	Details
Weight	585 kg
Height	1.5 meters
Diameter	2 meters
Propulsion	400N engine
Communication	S-band radio

The spacecraft's journey began on February 22, 2019, launching aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral. Beresheet executed a series of orbital maneuvers around Earth before entering lunar orbit on April 4, 2019.

The landing attempt took place in the Moon's Sea of Serenity region. During the final descent on April 11, 2019, the spacecraft experienced technical difficulties with its main engine communication problems. These issues led to a loss of control during the critical landing phase, resulting in the spacecraft's crash on the lunar surface.

• The viability of low-cost lunar missions
• The potential of private space ventures
• Israel's technological capabilities in space exploration
• New approaches to spacecraft design optimization

SpaceIL engineered the Beresheet spacecraft as Israel's first lunar lander with innovative design principles focused on cost-effectiveness and minimal mass. The project represented a significant milestone in privately funded space exploration initiatives.

SpaceIL collaborated with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in 2011 to develop Beresheet for the Google Lunar X Prize competition. The partnership combined SpaceIL's innovative engineering approach with IAI's established aerospace expertise to create a cost-efficient lunar spacecraft. The development team implemented commercial off-the-shelf components to reduce costs while maintaining mission reliability standards.

The Beresheet spacecraft incorporated several key technical features:

• Dimensions: 2 meters in diameter x 1.5 meters height
• Mass Distribution:
• Total mass: 585 kg
• Fuel mass: 400 kg
• Landing gear mass: 45 kg

Key mission capabilities included:

• Primary propulsion system with 400-newton thrust capacity
• Eight small maneuvering thrusters for position control
• Solar panels generating 1,500 watts of power
• Advanced navigation sensors including star trackers
• High-resolution cameras for surface imaging
• Magnetometer for lunar magnetic field measurements

Component	Specification
Total Cost	$100 million
Communication Range	384,400 km
Solar Panel Output	1,500 watts
Main Engine Thrust	400 newtons
Operational Life	2-3 days on surface

The technical design prioritized minimal mass while maintaining essential functionality for lunar landing operations. SpaceIL's engineers focused on creating a spacecraft capable of executing precise maneuvers during lunar descent while carrying scientific instruments for magnetic field measurements.

Beresheet's journey began on February 22, 2019, when SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launched the spacecraft from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The mission marked Israel's first lunar spacecraft and the world's first privately funded lunar landing attempt.

1. Initial Launch Phase

• Successful separation from Falcon 9 rocket at 60,000 km altitude
• Deployment of landing legs and solar panels
• Establishment of first communication with mission control

1. Orbital Maneuvers

• Completed 6 Earth orbit phases over 48 days
• Executed 8 orbital adjustment burns
• Reached apogee of 405,000 km from Earth
• Entered lunar orbit on April 4, 2019

1. Technical Issues

• Multiple computer resets during critical phases
• Communication disruptions with ground control
• Telemetry data inconsistencies during orbital transfers

1. Orbital Complexities

• Required precise trajectory calculations for lunar capture
• Managed fuel consumption constraints
• Coordinated multiple orbital raising maneuvers
• Adjusted spacecraft orientation for optimal solar power

Mission Phase	Duration	Distance Covered
Earth Orbit	48 days	6.5 million km
Transit to Moon	41 days	405,000 km
Lunar Orbit	7 days	14 lunar orbits

On April 11, 2019, Israel's Beresheet lunar lander initiated its final descent sequence toward the Moon's surface. The spacecraft's journey ended in an unsuccessful landing attempt when it crashed into the lunar surface at approximately 500 kilometers per hour.

The Beresheet mission encountered critical technical failures during its descent phase at 13:45 UTC. SpaceIL's mission control lost contact with the spacecraft's main engine at an altitude of 149 meters above the lunar surface. A gyroscope malfunction disrupted the communication system, preventing engineers from restarting the engine. The loss of engine power resulted in:

• Uncontrolled acceleration toward the Moon's surface
• Complete loss of braking capability at 74 meters altitude
• Communication breakdown in the final moments
• Impact velocity reaching 500 kilometers per hour

The Beresheet spacecraft crashed in the northeastern region of the Sea of Serenity (Mare Serenitatis) at coordinates 32.5956°N, 19.3496°E. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter captured images of the impact site revealing:

Impact Details	Measurements
Crater width	10 meters
Impact scatter radius	100 meters
Debris field area	3,000 square meters
Distance from planned landing site	1,000 meters

The crash site appears as a dark smudge surrounded by a white halo, marking the first Israeli spacecraft's final resting place on the lunar surface.

The Beresheet lunar mission's crash provided valuable insights for future space exploration endeavors. SpaceIL's experience highlighted critical areas for improvement in spacecraft design, mission planning, and risk management.

The investigation into Beresheet's crash revealed three primary technical issues:

• A software command error triggered an unexpected reset of the main engine's computer
• The inertial measurement unit failed during the critical landing phase
• Communication latency between mission control and the spacecraft impacted real-time corrections

These findings led to specific engineering recommendations:

• Implementation of redundant systems for critical components
• Enhanced testing protocols for spacecraft software
• Improved communication systems with reduced latency
• Development of autonomous error recovery procedures

• Announcement of Beresheet 2 mission with enhanced safety features
• Increased collaboration with international space agencies
• Development of advanced navigation systems for future lunar missions
• Implementation of new testing protocols based on crash analysis data

Impact Area	Development Focus
Engineering	Redundant systems integration
Software	Enhanced error detection
Communication	Reduced signal latency
Navigation	Improved autonomous control

• Israel's Beresheet spacecraft crashed on the Moon on April 11, 2019, during its final descent in the Sea of Serenity region
• The $100 million mission was Israel's first lunar mission and the first privately funded lunar landing attempt
• The crash occurred due to main engine failure and communication loss at an altitude of 149 meters above the lunar surface
• Despite the unsuccessful landing, the mission achieved several milestones and demonstrated the potential of private space ventures
• The spacecraft's journey lasted from February 22 to April 11, 2019, including 48 days in Earth orbit and successful lunar orbit insertion
• The failure analysis led to valuable insights for future missions, prompting the development of Beresheet 2 with enhanced safety features

Israel's Beresheet lunar mission marked a significant milestone in space exploration despite its unfortunate crash on April 11 2019. The mission demonstrated that private organizations can achieve remarkable feats in space exploration with relatively modest budgets. While technical difficulties led to its crash landing in the Moon's Sea of Serenity the valuable insights gained have paved the way for future missions.

The Beresheet mission's legacy lives on through the announced Beresheet 2 project which promises enhanced safety features and improved systems. This pioneering endeavor has inspired a new generation of space explorers and proved that space exploration isn't limited to major government agencies.