SpaceIL: Beresheet Mission

Israel’s First Expedition to the Moon

SpaceIL’s lunar lander, Beresheet, launched from Cape Canaveral on a used SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Feb. 21, 2019, along with an Indonesian communications satellite and a U.S. Air Force satellite. Over nearly two months, the craft maneuvered into successively longer loops around the planet until reaching the moon. Beresheet carried a time capsule of digital records and an instrument to study the moon’s magnetic field. Although the spacecraft failed to touch down safely, it was the first attempted moon landing for Israel and the first for a privately funded organization from anywhere in the world. Using six Imperx Bobcat B3320C camera’s, high resolution images were captured throughout the entire journey.

Beresheet experienced a technical failure during its final attempt at a lunar landing that resulted in a crash on April 11, 2019. This only emphasizes the rugged dependability of Imperx cameras, as they were able to successfully transmit the images and video that was collected straight back to base upon that untimely impact.

The Imperx Bobcat B3320C

Sensor/Resolution: 8 MP (2488 x 3312 pixels) color CCD sensor

Field of View: 60 x 80 degrees with Ruda Optics

Capabilities: Programmable exposure, auto-iris, and outstanding dynamic range

Setup: Consisted of five panoramic cameras and one self-pointing camera

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Beresheet Mission: In-Flight Metrics

Six Bobcat 3320C Cameras

Resistance to Prolonged Environmental Exposure

Beresheet pushed free from the Falcon 9 about half an hour after launch, kicking off a 40-day journey into lunar orbit. Once in orbit, another week was spent taking breathtaking images of the farside of the moon with Imperx ruggedized cameras before attempting to land on the Moon’s surface.

High Definition Imagery of the farside of the Moon

The Beresheet was equipped with five panoramic camera and one self-pointing camera courtesy of Imperx. These six cameras featured Ruda optics and managed to capture the viral selfies of the lander against the backdrop of the Earth and the farside of the Moon.

All Imperx Aerospace Cameras Feature:

All Imperx space-heritage cameras have been rigorously tested to withstand the harsh conditions of space.

Extended Temperature Range: -40˚C to +85˚C
Shock/vibration Performance: >1000G/100G.
MTBF of > 660,000 hours @ 40˚C (Telcordia SR-332)
MIL SPEC 810F certified

Imperx Cameras Equipped with Ruda Optics:

Exte Ruda Optics paris its custom optical systems with Imperx cameras because the resulting setup is virtually indestructible and highly specialized for the harsh environment of space. This collaboration has yielded flight-proven payloads for both private and government missions alike.

Ruda Optics is known for designing custom, aberration-free systems that optimize their lenses for wide fields of view. These specialized lenses are also perfect for specialized optical analysis, mapping, and position sensing.