22.10.2021

In the first international agreement for SpaceIL, the Beresheet 2 mission is to be a joint Israeli-Emirates project.

Illustration of the Beresheet 2 Moon mission. Image courtesy of SpaceIL

When Israel and the United Arab Emirates signed the historic Abraham Accords last year to foster binational collaborations, it seemed that the sky was the limit.

Now, even the sky is no limit. The newest of many projectsblossoming between these Middle East allies will send three unmanned spacecrafts to the Moon.

The Beresheet 2 mission, scheduled for 2024, follows Israel’s solo attempt to reach the Moon in April 2019, which ended in a crash landing.

Leaders of the privately funded Beresheet mission initiator, SpaceIL, signed an agreement in Dubai this week in which Israel and the UAE will work together on several space-related projects including the $100 million Beresheet 2 mission.

From left, SpaceIL Chairman Morris Kahn, UAE Space Agency and Council of Scientists Chairwoman Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri, and SpaceIL CEO Shimon Sarid. Photo courtesy of SpaceIL

According to a SpaceIL statement, “This is the first scientific-technological project to create a common history for the two peoples: the flags of Israel and the Emirates on the Moon. It is about creating a model for cooperation between the two peoples in many aspects — technological, scientific and educational, which will deepen the connection between the countries and serve as inspiration for further cooperation between Israel and all Arab countries.”

Beresheet 2, consisting of two lunar landers and a lunar orbiter, could break several records in outer-space history. Among them would be a double landing on the Moon in one mission; and launching the smallest-ever spacecraft (each lander is to weigh 265 pounds/120 kilograms with a full fuel tank).

The orbiter is planned for a long-term mission of about five years and will be a platform for scientific educational activities through remote connection, allowing students from Israel and other countries to participate in scientific research in deep space.

“SpaceIL has committed itself to promoting science and science education at the regional and global levels, while also contributing to the processes of normalization and regional peace through collaborations with peace-loving and space-seeking countries,” said SpaceIL CEO Shimon Sarid at the signing ceremony.

“We are pleased to cooperate with the United Arab Emirates Space Agency, hand in hand with the [Israeli] Ministry of Science and the Israel Space Agency.”

To celebrate the collaboration, children from the Jewish community in Dubai and a preschool in Ramat Gan drew space pictures, some of which may travel aboard Beresheet 2.

The agreement also stipulates that the two nations will work jointly on research based on data from the Israeli-French satellite Venus, and that Emirati and Israeli students will build a new satellite tracking the Moon.

Philanthropist and SpaceIL Chairman Morris Kahn, who led the SpaceIL delegation to Dubai, said, “Over the past few months, we have forged a strong relationship with senior UAE officials who seek to establish a deep relationship based on shared values of education, technology and inspiration for the younger generations of the two peoples. We are proud to be the first project to pave the way for further historic moves.”

Quelle: Israel21c

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Israel, UAE sign historic space agreement

Israel’s Minister of Science, Technology and Space Orit Farkash, and the UAE’s Minister of State for Advanced Technology Sarah Al Amiri signed the historic agreement together.

 

Israel and the UAE signed a historic space exploration and cooperation agreement last Wednesday at ‘World Space Week’, part of 2020 Expo Dubai.

 

Israel’s Minister of Science, Technology and Space Orit Farkash, and the UAE’s Minister of State for Advanced Technology Sarah Al Amiri signed the historic agreement together at Expo 2020’s World Space Week, held throughout this week in Dubai.

 

Alongside the umbrella agreement, two other specific cooperation projects were signed: one on the 'Beresheet 2' moon mission and the other on groundbreaking scientific research based on the Israeli-French satellite ‘Venus’ and its data.

The Beresheet 2 is Israel's second attempt at launching a lunar mission. The first – named 'Beresheet' after the first word in the Torah meaning "in the beginning" – was launched in 2019 with the goal of landing on the surface of the moon, making Israel just the fourth country on the planet to attempt a moon landing.

 

The agreement pertaining to the Israeli-French ‘Venus’ satellite will examine phenomena related to Earth resources, precision agriculture, desertification, and monitoring of bodies of water, among other research. By constantly examining the earth, the satellite will analyze agriculture, desertification, water monitoring, and climate change– issues common both to Israel and the Emirates.

 

In addition, the two will promote a project with the participation of Arab and Jewish students from both countries. The project began as an educational initiative for Arab and Jewish students of the 'Nazareth Space Center' to study satellite engineering and astronomy, and is now being promoted between the two countries as they attempt to determine the exact timing of the moon's birth.

Israel’s Minister of Science, Technology and Space Orit Farkash and the UAE’s Minister of State for Advanced Technology Sarah Al Amiri signed the historic agreement together at Expo 2020’s World Space Week (credit: MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY)

 

After the two nations reached a historic peace deal just last year, this marks the fifteenth agreement in a row since the establishment of peace between the two countries. “It would be wonderful if we could develop a space program that would be a combination of Israel and the Arab world,” SpaceIL’s chairman Morris Kahn told the Global Investment Forum in Dubai on Wednesday. “I would welcome it – if it fits in with the program the Emirates have. They have an ambitious program.”

Quelle: THE JERUSALEM POST