Israel's Beresheet spacecraft fails in Moon landing attempt
"Israel’s Beresheet spacecraft has failed in its audacious attempt to make a Moon landing.
The spacecraft experienced a failure of its main engine just seconds before it was expected to reach the lunar surface. "We had a failure of the spacecraft, we have not landed successfully," explained a spokesman from a deflated Mission Control in Yehud, Israel. A problem with the spacecraft's engine was reported at 3:24 p.m. ET and communication with Beresheet was lost."
So Close. Apparently with a few seconds of touchdown.
The spacecraft experienced a failure of its main engine just seconds before it was expected to reach the lunar surface. "We had a failure of the spacecraft, we have not landed successfully," explained a spokesman from a deflated Mission Control in Yehud, Israel. A problem with the spacecraft's engine was reported at 3:24 p.m. ET and communication with Beresheet was lost."
So Close. Apparently with a few seconds of touchdown.
Even before that, the computerized telemetry we saw was very flakey.