March 5 – SpaceIL and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) shared today that Beresheet’s camera took a selfie photo for the first time, from a distance of 37,600 km (23363.5 miles) from Earth. The spacecraft transmitted the photo to the control room in Yehud, Israel, which is staffed 24/7 by SpaceIL and IAI engineers.
In the photo of Earth, taken during a slow spin of the spacecraft, Australia is clearly visible. Also seen is the plaque installed on the spacecraft, with the Israeli flag and the inscriptions “Am Yisrael Chai” and “Small Country, Big Dreams.”
Beresheet was launched from Cape Canaveral on February 22 at 3:45 am. It is scheduled to land on the moon a week after it is supposed to be “trapped” in the moon’s orbit.
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