President Shimon Peres, prominent figures from the high-tech industry, and reporters from all over the world, gathered today for the unveiling of the first Israeli spacecraft that, if all goes well, will land on the moon. The spacecraft is a metal box about the size of an average bathroom cupboard. It has three squeegee-like legs, and the Israeli flag is proudly emblazoned on its side.
This modest box is supposed to lift off within three years, to climb through the atmosphere, and, the most complicated part, to land on the moon and remain intact. If the little spacecraft completes these maneuvers, it will win the $20 million Google Lunar X PRIZE.
"This is a symbolic act" says Jonathan Weintraub, one of the young entrepreneurs behind the project, and founder, together with Yariv Bash and Kfir Damri, of Space IL. The three, from technological and educational backgrounds, decided to take up the challenge in order to give science greater appeal to young Israelis. "Today's teenagers don't think about space science," says Weintraub. "We set ourselves a goal of reaching every eighth and ninth grader this year to tell them about our flight into space."
"Three things attract children to science: robots, space, and dinosaurs," adds Aladdin Knowledge Systems founder and CEO Yanki Margalit, who is chairman of the project and a substantial donor. So far, the great enthusiasm at the project has not translated into finance, and the organizers have raised just $3 million to date out of the $15 million they need under the competition rules.
"The top part of the spacecraft displays the logo of Israel Aerospace Industries," says Margalit, "but there's room for another logo in the bottom part, and $10 million will buy it. We would be delighted to receive approaches."
How will space science in Israel be affected by a moon landing?
Weintraub: "I very much hope that the landing will open the door to the development of a civilian space industry in Israel, just as the high-tech industry sprang from a few isolated projects."
Space IL is the only group in the Google project that is a non-profit organization, and its heads have promised to invest all the prize money in technological education for young people. "I have a picture in my mind," says Margalit. "In 2014, Israelis will be glued to their television screens, more than for 'A Star is Born', more than for 'Master Chef', more even than for the blessed return home of Gilad Shalit. I think that its inspiring. As a child, I had no television set at home, and I did not see the landing of Apollo 11 in real time, but the only video film I remember from childhood is the landing on the moon."
The Ramon Fund, named after Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon, is also involved in the project. "Space IL continues Ilan's way, and presents Israeli society with another challenge. It preserves not only Ilan's legacy and great sense of mission, but also the cadre of quality to which Ilan belonged," said Ramon's widow Rona in a message filmed for the event.
Shimon Peres, who was among the founders of Israel Aerospace Industries (formerly Israel Aircraft Industries) said in his address, "I have a friend here on whom I'd like to have my revenge. The friend is Morris Kahn. He boasted to me that he founded the first bicycle factory in Beit Shemesh. At that time, I founded Israel Aircraft Industries, but everyone said that nothing would come of it. Where are the bicycles today, and where are the wings? The company that everyone called a white elephant now provides a living for 60,000 people."
Talking to "Globes", Peres said, "In ten years' time, the biggest industry will be electronic spare parts for human beings. Israel excels in the interface between people, machines, and medical treatment. Space is not connected to the brain, but space technology involves miniaturization of technological capabilities, which makes artificial intelligence possible. You can be a believer and a scientist, but if you believe and don’t have science, you will not be able to sustain your nation."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on December 8, 2011
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