Israel and Italy Join Forces for Beresheet 2 Moon Mission

In a significant step forward for the Israeli space program, Brig. Gen. Uri Oron, director general of the Israel Space Agency (ISA), and Prof. Teodoro Velente, president of the Italian Space Agency (ASI), signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) this week for collaboration on SpaceIL’s upcoming Beresheet 2 mission. This agreement was made during the 20th Ilan Ramon International Space Conference in Tel Aviv, an event attended by senior figures from Israel's space community.

The exact budget for the Beresheet 2 mission has not been finalized, but discussions indicate it will exceed €10 million. The collaboration aims to conduct two moon landings, featuring a variety of scientific experiments related to mapping, soil exploration, and the physical phenomena of the moon’s environment. The mission will also include a mother spacecraft that will orbit the moon for five years, acting as a hub for scientific activities globally, including interactive programs with Israeli researchers and the international community.

The partnership with Italy is expected to enhance the technological and scientific aspects of the mission. It will facilitate joint research efforts and the development of new technologies such as landing sensors, navigation systems, communications, and control mechanisms. Oron praised Italy for its substantial space investment, stating that Italy invests over €1 billion annually in space initiatives and aims to have a presence in upcoming lunar missions. With around 20 lunar missions planned in the next 7-8 years, Israel’s participation in these endeavors is critical for its technological, commercial, and political growth.

Alongside the Beresheet 2 mission, Israel is also a key participant in NASA's Artemis program. The Israeli company StemRad is contributing to the program by developing a spacesuit for the mission. Discussions with NASA are ongoing to explore further technological contributions from Israel for the Artemis missions. However, there are currently no plans for another Israeli astronaut to join NASA’s manned missions.

The Beresheet mission, Israel's first attempt to land a spacecraft on the moon, crashed in April 2019. Despite the failure, SpaceIL’s educational goals were a resounding success, inspiring thousands of students in Israel and around the world through school activities and space-related learning. SpaceIL’s efforts to bring Israel to the moon, funded by major contributors including Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and philanthropists like Morris Kahn, helped establish the country as the seventh nation to reach the moon, even though the mission did not succeed in its primary goal.

Following the crash, the Israeli government and private donors rallied to fund Beresheet 2, raising $70 million for the mission. The renewed interest in lunar exploration, particularly as part of the US-led Artemis program, has sparked a new era of space exploration, with Israel playing an important role in the growing race for the moon.