We plan [to operate it] for a few days, but it might be longer, we’re trying to land on the lunar sunrise – we need the place to be lit so that we have energy to power our solar panels; we need to be able to see the land and it’s cooler [during the sunrise], as opposed to when the sun is fully up.

Yonatan Winetraub

Categorized in : Tech

Israel is a small country that has extreme innovation. by Yonatan Winetraub

Israel is a small country that has extreme innovation.

Yonatan Winetraub

Landing is the most difficult part of the mission for multiple reasons, it takes radio signals traveling at the speed of light 2 to 3 seconds in total to send and receive messages – the spacecraft is traveling at 2 kilometers a second at that point.

Yonatan Winetraub

[Philae] was a completely different problem – the moon’s gravity is significantly stronger … the Moon’s geometry is very well understood – we have got a good idea of where we will land, we’re doing our best – it is rocket science!

Yonatan Winetraub

It’s an advanced version of using the North Star for navigation. by Yonatan Winetraub

It’s an advanced version of using the North Star for navigation.

Yonatan Winetraub

We’re going to do it in a single hop – we’re going to reignite the engines, do a little launch and land again, 500 meters [1,600 feet] to the side.

Yonatan Winetraub