Only three nations have sent a rocket to the moon; The United States, Russia, and China. You can now add a fourth country to that list. On February 22, 2019, Israel launched its space craft, Beresheet (Genesis) from Cape Canaveral in Florida. Its trip will take 7 weeks, and plans are for Beresheet to land in the Sea of Tranquility on the moon on April 11. The successful launching of Beresheet will make history in two ways: first, as a first launch of a space craft for Israel, and second, “as the first private sector landing on the moon.”
Financed with private funds, the $100 Million (370 Million NIS), project is the joint venture of SpaceIL and Israel Aerospace Industries. This past week the craft sent back a photograph from its selfie camera with a plaque of an Israeli flag with two inscriptions. Am Yisroel Chai (the people of Israel Live) and “Small Country, Big Dreams.”
Israel defies its detractors, enemies, and critics, simply through their achievements. They show their value and virtue through their work. What an incredible success for Israel to launch a space craft and become only the fourth country in the world to land on the moon. A Little Country With BIG Dreams, indeed!
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