About SpaceIL
On February 22, 2019, SpaceIL launched the Beresheet spacecraft to the Moon. In doing so, SpaceIL became the first entity in the world to break into the field of space travel with private funding. On April 4, 2019, Beresheet was successfully captured into an elliptical lunar orbit, thereby positioning Israel as the seventh country to reach the Moon and making SpaceIL the first private project in the world to do so. On April 11, 2019, Beresheet began the landing process as planned. During this stage, a malfunction caused a series of disruptions, which resulted in an engine shutting down and the spacecraft crashing on the moon.
SpaceIL’s achievements have been internationally acclaimed both by space experts and the general population. Letters of support flooded the organization, and the warm international support for the team intensified. The vision of creating an Israeli ‘Apollo Effect’ became a reality. But this was just the beginning, not the end.
As part of the organization’s educational sphere, SpaceIL volunteers have given thousands of lectures in Israel and around the world to students of all ages (from preschool to senior citizens), highlighting the story of Beresheet 1. From the beginning of the journey, and until reaching the moon, they spoke of the dreams, the aspirations, coping with challenges, and their belief in the cause. The volunteers told the inspirational story of the first Israeli spacecraft to reach the moon, in order to encourage the students and to advance science education in Israel.
Currently, the organization is working on the Beresheet 2 spacecraft. In parallel, SpaceIL continues to be strongly committed to promoting a dialogue focused on the fields of science and engineering in Israel as well as the introduction of youth to exciting possibilities that STEM studies have to offer.
The SpaceIL team passionately believes in ‘inspiration through action’. Consequently, the team continues to plan the next journey to the moon, while simultaneously spreading the seeds for the blossoming of engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs who will become the future generation of professionals who will make dreams come true!
SpaceIL is a non-profit organization that strives to promote science and science education. In April of 2019, SpaceIL became the first private entity in history to reach the Moon, thereby securing Israel's position as the seventh country to reach the Moon. This thrilled millions of people around the world and provided a source of inspiration for future generations of spacecraft builders in Israel. Currently, the organization is working to promote the Beresheet 2 Mission, while continuing its educational activity.
The organization was established in 2011, with the goal of landing the first Israeli spacecraft on the moon. The organization was founded by three engineers: Yariv Bash, Kfir Damari, and Yehonatan Weintraub, who rose to meet the international challenge posed by the Google Lunar XPRIZE Competition. The competition officially ended without winners on March 31, 2018, after Google withdrew its sponsorship. But SpaceIL continued its mission to meet the challenge, fueled by a central commitment: to inspire the younger generation to take an interest in space and technology, to think big, and to follow their dreams!
Founders
Executive Committee and General Assembly
Advisory Board
Our Volunteers
SpaceIL strives to leverage the unprecedented achievement in the field of space and Israeli entrepreneurship and to continue to inspire Israeli children to become the next generation of dreamers and entrepreneurs.
The educational activity would not have been possible without the enormous contribution of the organization’s team of volunteers. Our volunteers visit schools across the country, giving lectures about the story of Israel’s first spacecraft. They have reached a million Israeli pupils and stirred their scientific curiosity, sparked their imagination and dreams, and provided professional and reliable knowledge about the Organization’s scientific mission. Additionally, our team of volunteers also lectures before adult populations at various events and represents us at conferences.
In short – They are SpaceIL’s ambassadors with the public at large!
Law consultant
Dan Or Hof
A New York and Israeli attorney with over 25 years of specific experience in technology and law. An LLM degree from UC Berkeley and Tel Aviv University (summa cum laude) Dan is the founder of Or-Hof Law. His experience is derived from both academic and practical experience, with extensive knowledge of technology and innovation.
In 2012, Dan joined SpaceIL, as the project's legal counsel, has covered all legal matters of the Beresheet1 mission to the moon, such as; agreements on the development and launch of the spacecraft, procurement agreements for ground and launch systems, regulatory issues, education projects, and relations with government bodies in Israel and abroad. Now he is managing the legal and regulatory aspects of the Beresheet2 mission.
Dan is a space geek and has considerable experience with contractual and strategic work related to launch services, satellites and spacecrafts development and procurement of ground and space systems. In the last decade, he also advises and takes part in additional space-related projects, ventures, start-ups and scientific initiatives, as legal counsel and a member of the strategic and advisory teams, including in the following ventures and projects: an optogenetics capability demonstrator on space environment, satellite-borne cryptographic applications, satellites design and development services, small payload advanced launch systems and space projects planning and support services.