Israeli Spacecraft Beresheet Completes First Moon-Orbit Maneuver

Israeli spacecraft Beresheet has successfully performed its first maneuver around the moon on Sunday morning, Beresheet’s developer, Israeli nonprofit SpaceIL, announced Sunday.

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The maneuver reduced Beresheet’s apolune—the point at which a spacecraft in orbit is farthest from the moon—from 10,400 kilometers from the moon to 750 kilometers. The closest point to the moon—the perilune—is now at 460 kilometers away.

The moon as captured by Beresheet at 550 kilometers away. Photo: Beresheet

The moon as captured by Beresheet at 2,500 kilometers away. Photo: Beresheet

SpaceIL developed Bereshit in collaboration with Israeli state-owned defense contractor Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI). The craft was launched in February on the back of a SpaceX rocket, and has since been orbiting earth, sending selfies and photographs back to its operators.