Israel
Israeli probe Beresheet performs critical manoeuvre to enter lunar orbit a week before landing
Spacecraft was captured by the Moon's gravity on Thursday afternoon
April 4, 2019 15:59
By, BY JC Reporter
1 min read
Spacecraft was captured by the Moon's gravity on Thursday afternoon
April 4, 2019 15:59By, BY JC Reporter
An Israeli spacecraft bound for the Moon has entered lunar orbit after performing a crucial manoeuvre ahead of a landing scheduled for next Thursday.
The Beresheet probe was captured by the Moon’s gravity and began orbiting Earth’s only natural satellite at 3.18pm UK time on Thursday.
The manoeuvre placed the probe into an elliptical cycle that will bring the craft to within 500 km of the lunar surface at its closest point.
Morris Kahn, chairman of SpaceIL, the organisation that launched the probe, said it made him “proud to be an Israeli.”
