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Thursday, March 28, 2024

NASA and Israel Space Agency Sign Agreement to Expand Cooperation

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NASA and the Israel Space Agency (ISA) signed an agreement to expand cooperation between the two agencies on Thursday, during a visit from newly appointed NASA Chief Jim Bridenstine.

Earlier, Bridenstine met with ISA Director General Avi Blasberger, as well as Science and Space Minister Ofir Akunis in Jerusalem, where NASA’s Director expressed the United States’ plans to return to the moon and to create a permanent base there, in accordance with President Donald Trump’s vision.

SpaceIL, an Israeli NGO, announced Tuesday morning that they will send an unmanned spacecraft to the moon before the end of the year. The spacecraft is set to be launched using Elon Musk’s private aerospace company SpaceX, with a launch scheduled for December

Project discussed between the two agencies include Israel taking part in the International Space Station, as well as the studies of life sciences while employing nano-satellites – a field Israel has extensive knowledge in.

“The agreement signed today symbolizes our mutual interest in building our scientific and technological capabilities in the field of space [exploration],” said Science and Space Minister Akunis, adding that the fact that the Director of NASA chose to conduct his first foreign visit as Director in Israel “says alot about the strong alliance between the two countries and the great appreciation [the US] has for Israel’s amazing technological technical capabilities, even in the field of space exploration.”

SpaceIL, an Israeli NGO, announced Tuesday morning that they will send an unmanned spacecraft to the moon before the end of the year. The spacecraft is set to be launched using Elon Musk’s private aerospace company SpaceX, with a launch scheduled for December. The spacecraft, which will be the smallest to ever land on the moon is expected to land on February 13th, 2019, roughly two months after leaving earth, making Israel the fourth country to ever land a spacecraft on the moon, following Russia, the United States and China.

By: Yona Schnitzer
(TPS)

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