Israeli spacecraft Genesis sends remarkable photos of far side of the moon

Beresheet, (or “Genesis”) is scheduled to land on the moon on April 11.

By World Israel News Staff 

Genesis, Israel’s historic spacecraft, which entered lunar orbit on Thursday on its journey to the moon is on an “excellent” track, according to data from the SpaceIL and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

During its lunar orbit, Genesis will be at its nearest point to the moon (perilune) at 470 kilometers (292 miles) from the lunar surface, and the farthest from the moon (apolune) at 10,400 km (6,462 miles).

Genesis is scheduled to land on the moon at about 11 p.m. Israel time on April 11 (4 p.m, EDT). During the coming week, SpaceIL and IAI are to conduct a series of intense maneuvers with the spacecraft in preparation for the landing.

This past Thursday, during the critical Lunar Capture maneuver, when the spacecraft entered the moon’s orbit from the Earth’s orbit, Genesis provided dramatic pictures of the moon while activating its engines.

The spacecraft was launched to the moon on February 22. A couple of days later, the lunar spacecraft successfully completed its first maneuver towards the moon. On March 20, it performed a special maneuver to align itself on the right track to the moon.

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