Beresheet2 Lunar Mission Proposals Solicited by SpaceIL
SpaceIL has sent out a "call for proposals" to solicit ideas from organizations around the world for scientific experiments for its upcoming Beresheet2 lunar mission, which is expected to be launched in late 2024.
The Beresheet2 lunar mission will launch three spacecraft to the moon; one orbiter and two small rovers that will explore different sites after landing on both sides of the moon. The orbiter will conduct a 2 to 5-year mission in orbit around the moon, and will serve as a platform for scientific and educational activities.
The call for proposals is targeted to universities, research institutes and space related industries around the world. The proposals can focus on various research fields such as: Lunar soil, Lunar environmental conditions, lunar sustainability such as production of food and water, astrobiology, comparative data from both sides of the moon and more.
The objective of SpaceIL is to combine scientific research with educational programs by conducting experiments that can be made educationally accessible to school children and students to inspire and bring more young people into the world of science.
Each of the experiments will take place on the two Landers and the Orbiter and SpaceIL. It is required to include in the proposal an outline for an educational program related to the experiment. SpaceIL defines the basics characteristic for the experiments, for example:
The equipment weight for each lander should be 2.5 kg (5.5 pounds) and up to 5 kg (11 pounds) for the orbiter. Payloads are required to be able to survive the harsh environment in space, including radiation, temperatures and more.
The Beresheet2 mission is designed to create several remarkable achievements in space, including landing two rovers on the Moon in a single mission, landing on the far side of the Moon (which, to date, has only been accomplished by China), and the smallest landers ever launched to the moon.
Recently SpaceIL announced obtaining funding of $70 million for Israel's second mission to the Moon. The funds were obtained from a group of entrepreneurs-philanthropists, comprising Patrick Drahi (Patrick and Lina Drahi Foundation), Morris Kahn (Kahn Foundation) and the Moshal Space Foundation, in partnership with Entrée Capital.
(Image provided with SpaceIL news release)