February 21, 2019 - No. 015 In This Issue Purdue aviation adds full flight simulator to suite of training devices Willis Lease and FLYdocs Spearheading Development of Blockchain Powered Aviation Records Platform Honeywell's Hybrid-Electric Turbogenerator Debuts at Heli-Expo General Dynamics takes $99M FAA tech migration contract Electric Airplane Manufacturer, Eviation, Partners with Siemens in Joint Development of Electric Propulsion Systems for Eviation's all-electric Alice GE Aviation moving "several hundred jobs" to the Banks NASA To Test Urban Unmanned Aircraft Systems Drone Traffic Management Technology. ECSU signs aviation science agreement with community colleges Farsoon and Airbus sign R&D collaboration for polymer 3D printing and civil aviation SpaceX is about to launch an Israeli mission to the moon. If successful, it would be the world's first private lunar landing. Purdue aviation adds full flight simulator to suite of training devices WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -Purdue Polytechnic Institute students will soon reach a new level of aviation training without leaving the ground. The Polytechnic's School of Aviation and Transportation Technology announced the addition of a Hawker 900XP full-motion, Level D simulator to its collection of flight training devices. Purdue is the only university to offer Hawker simulator training. The Hawker simulator will be housed in the Holleman-Niswonger Simulator Center at Purdue University Airport along with the aviation school's Phenom 100 jet, CRJ-700 airliner, Cirrus SR20 aircraft training devices and a number of part-task trainers. "We are the only university in the nation to offer jet-type training integrated into our bachelor of science degree program," said Manoj Patankar, the Raisbeck Engineering Professor of Aviation Technology and head of the School of Aviation and Transportation Technology. "Adding the Hawker simulator is a giant leap in collegiate flight education that gives our students a significant competitive advantage upon graduation." The Hawker simulator is designed and manufactured by FlightSafety International, a world leader in aviation training and simulation. "Purdue's degree combines the depth of university study with the practical skills to be employment ready," said Mike Suckow, associate professor of practice in the aviation school. "Thus, we are continuously working with industry to understand the gaps as technology advances." "We plan on acquiring a full spectrum of flight training devices that allow us to expand our capacity to support the increasing enrollment, conduct leading research projects and keep our students competitive in the job market," Patankar said. The Hawker flight simulator will arrive later this spring and be ready for use by students in Purdue Polytechnic's professional flight program this fall. https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2019/Q1/purdue-aviation-adds-full-flight-simulator-to-suite-of-training-devices.html Back to Top Willis Lease and FLYdocs Spearheading Development of Blockchain Powered Aviation Records Platform COCONUT CREEK, Fla., Feb. 20, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Willis Lease Finance Corporation ( WLFC ) and FLYdocs have joined forces to develop a pilot program demonstrating the use of blockchain technology on an open source data sharing platform for aircraft, engine and component records. The two powerhouses are engaging in what they anticipate will be widely regarded as a pioneering move in the digital transformation of the aviation industry. Blockchain has already established a reputation in the financial sector as the core technology underpinning virtual currencies such as Bitcoin, and this initiative between WLFC and FLYdocs seeks to explore similar benefits within aviation. The cutting-edge development attempts to be the first real use of a blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) solution for managing commercial aircraft, engines and component transitions. The sharing economy created by this new cloud-based platform would present an opportunity to decentralize data exchange, eliminate silos and create a transparent environment for collaboration, with added value distribution for airlines, industry partners, vendors, manufacturers and regulators. Users of the platform can expect reduced friction in the transfer of assets, purchases, leases and sales of aircraft. An added benefit of this collaborative ecosystem will be the provision of anonymity in the data, allowing for complete trust between users, so they drive their own big data analysis initiatives rather than relying on the OEM or third-parties. Charles F Willis, Chairman & CEO of WLFC, noted: "The fundamental goal of this pilot project is to provide increased data integrity, record immutability and security to the aviation industry. Blockchain and its associated technologies will cultivate a marketplace for the sharing of technical and performance information in a cost-efficient and transparent way. Although Willis Lease and FLYdocs are acting as the architects for the development of this communal platform, users will be able to access the wealth of data and resources autonomously." Andre Fischer, CEO of FLYdocs also commented: "The immediate value proposition for airlines will be the reduction in working hours that are typically required to comply with lease and ownership transitions. Even more interesting, however, are the analytical implications of having consistent, shared and protected data anonymously presented on a common platform and available to airlines at no cost. While airlines remain in control, it provides them with a wider choice between competing solutions as the anticipated open platform environment will enhance competition of data analytics. I expect airlines and data analysts to use this disruptive technology to drive significant efficiency gains in the maintenance, safety and aircraft security within the industry over the next decade." The new platform will have significant potential to change the way data is shared and driven within the aviation sector. WLFC and FLYdocs will, therefore, be extending an invitation to technology partners to join the pilot project. The pilot is already utilizing the expertise of Microsoft Gold Cloud Partner and One-Tier Cloud Service Provider, United Data Technologies and might open up to more partners as the development moves forward. Participation in the project may include benefits such as complimentary use of services, influencing the product roadmap and being a part of an innovative initiative that could change the face of aviation. About Willis Lease Finance Corporation Willis Lease Finance Corporation leases large and regional spare commercial aircraft engines, auxiliary power units and aircraft to airlines, aircraft engine manufacturers and maintenance, repair and overhaul providers in 120 countries. These leasing activities are integrated with engine and aircraft trading, engine lease pools and asset management services supported by cutting edge technology through its subsidiary Willis Asset Management, as well as various end-of-life solutions for aircraft, engines and aviation materials provided through its subsidiary, Willis Aeronautical Services, Inc. About FLYdocs FLYdocs is the world's most advanced aircraft data and records management platform. The FLYdocs Big Data solution is utilized by airlines and lessors worldwide to efficiently manage assets, data and records in real time to transition assets at sale or end of lease on-time in a fully paperless way. The FLYdocs system is underpinned by an aggressive software development program which has new modules available for customers including Project Management, FLYsign Digital Sign-off [with electronic workflows], Authorizations & Training Records Management and the FLYdocs integrated electronic documentation and authoring system. FLYdocs provides aircraft records management software, related outsourcing solutions and technical aviation services. It has 250 employees and is headquartered in Tamworth, Staffordshire, UK, with offices in India, Philippines, China and the US. https://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/willis-lease-and-flydocs-spearheading-development-of-blockchain-powered-aviation-records-platform-20190220-01194 Back to Top Honeywell's Hybrid-Electric Turbogenerator Debuts at Heli-Expo PHOENIX, Feb. 19, 2019 - A new hybrid-electric turbogenerator from Honeywell (NYSE: HON) will make its debut at the HAI HELI-EXPO in Atlanta next month to showcase the company's growing role in the urban air mobility segment, highlighted by Honeywell advancements in electric and hybrid-electric propulsion systems. Honeywell's prototype system combines the rugged, flight-proven HTS900 engine with two compact, high-power density generators. Each generator provides 200 kilowatts, which combined is enough to power 40 average American homes running air conditioning at full blast. The system burns conventional or bio-derived jet fuel and can feed motors or high-capacity batteries. "This redefines powered flight by providing electricity to spare in a safe, light package built for aviation," said Bryan Wood, senior director of Honeywell's hybrid-electric and electric propulsion programs. "As the urban air mobility segment grows, Honeywell is providing safe, reliable propulsion solutions as well as a host of other aviation technologies that are ready to install today on next-generation vehicles." Conventional aircraft use fuel-burning engines to mechanically turn rotors, propellers or fans. But many new aircraft designs incorporate multiple electric motors, which can be tilted or turned off for vertical takeoff and horizontal flight. Aircraft designers believe this could usher in a new era of quiet, efficient, point-to-point aviation. A single Honeywell turbogenerator could power multiple electric motors located anywhere on an aircraft. Honeywell has rapidly expanded its presence in urban air mobility, offering avionics, propulsion, flight controls, navigation, collision avoidance, power generation, actuation, logistics, satellite communication and connectivity technologies to companies developing new aircraft. In January the company announced its work with Pipistrel Vertical Solutions to develop systems for a vertical takeoff and landing air vehicle that will eventually be capable of fully autonomous flight. Honeywell is already a leading provider of onboard power, with systems on thousands of airliners, business jets and military and rotary aircraft worldwide. The company's solutions deliver highly reliable electric current from five to 200 kilowatts in constant speed, variable frequency and direct current configurations. Honeywell is now testing the aerospace industry's first one-megawatt generator. The turbogenerator will be on display March 5 - 7 at Honeywell's Booth C3107 during the show at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. https://www.aviationpros.com/engines-components/aircraft-engines/electric-green-engine-technology/press-release/21068981/honeywell-aerospace-honeywells-hybridelectric-turbogenerator-debuts-at-heliexpo Back to Top General Dynamics takes $99M FAA tech migration contract General Dynamics' IT services business has won a $99 million contract with the Federal Aviation Administration to work on that agency's "DVARS" system. DVARS stands for Data, Visualization, Analysis and Reporting System. The system has both commercial offerings and customize software components to help the FAA with analysis capabilities to ensure the National Airspace System's infrastructure remains safe and evolves, the company said. The contract will support the FAA's strategic plan to improve their capabilities, access data and perform analyses on NAS operations. DVARS will also help integrate new types of user technologies into the airspace and evaluate their effectiveness once implemented. GDIT will support DVARS by introducing a number of technological updates, including the migration to an enterprise architecture. Added benefits include streamlined system updates and expanded online user access. Commercial offerings for functions such as reporting and visualization will further enable the FAA to leverage market best practices and product improvements, the company said. https://washingtontechnology.com/articles/2019/02/19/gdit-faa-win.aspx Back to Top Electric Airplane Manufacturer, Eviation, Partners with Siemens in Joint Development of Electric Propulsion Systems for Eviation's all-electric Alice PRESCOTT, Ariz., Feb. 20, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Eviation Aircraft, a global manufacturer of all-electric air mobility solutions, today announced that it has selected Siemens, the world automation technology leader and the largest industrial manufacturing company in Europe, to provide high-power, all-electric propulsion systems for Eviation's fleet of regional Alice electric planes. The Eviation and Siemens collaboration marks a significant point in the commercialization of aviation's first all-electric plane, Alice, and electric propulsion systems, designed for this new era of air mobility. The Alice will be displayed at the upcoming Paris Air Show and will conduct its first flight later this year. Keeping innovation and performance top of mind, Eviation has created a new era in aviation with the Alice. Inspired by the new design possibilities that emerged by replacing turbine engines with all electric motors, Eviation and its team have reimagined what sleek, stylish and cost effective air mobility can be with the introduction of Alice. Siemens was selected for Eviation's Alice motor for their leading development in extremely low weight and high-power compact efficient motors, especially designed to meet aviation standards and safety regulations. With a significant push toward bringing all-electric flight to regional markets, Siemens and Eviation will work on propulsion system integration, including: electrical integration, FBW system connectivity, thermal management system development and mechanical mounting. "At Siemens, we believe that we are in a new era of aviation and mobility, an era that will be dominated by high-performing electric propulsion, automation and efficiency, which is why partnering with Eviation is so befitting. This partnership will serve as an industry milestone to demonstrate information exchange and system adaptations to create the first all-electric solution," said Dr. Frank Anton, Head eAircraft. "We are committed to providing technology that provides solutions to some of the world's most challenging problems, and by collaborating with Eviation to develop the Alice, we are able to further our mission." The Alice leverages an IP portfolio that includes innovations in thermal management and autonomous landing, as well as distributed electric propulsion, industry-leading battery technology and cutting-edge composite body frames, capable of flying with nine passengers at 220 knots to a range of 650 miles on a single charge. Following test flights this year and certification in 2021, Eviation will begin shipping the aircraft for commercial use in 2022. "For more than 150 years, Siemens has been a pioneer in developing motors designed for performance, efficiency and are well-respected for reliability. By utilizing Siemens' advanced motor technology, Alice is further established as a front runner for high performing zero-emission electric aviation," said Omer Bar-Yohay. "We are thrilled to collaborate with Siemens to develop the first fully-operational all-electric regional commuter and we're pleased to work with iconic partners who share our vision of making clean regional air travel accessible for all." About Eviation Aircraft Eviation Aircraft Ltd. is developing and manufacturing efficient electric aircraft in an effort to make electric aviation a fast, competitive, and sustainable answer to the on-demand mobility of people and goods. Its distributed propulsion, high-energy density batteries, mission-driven energy management, and new airframe are designed from the ground up to maximize these technological advances for regional flight operators. Eviation is a member of NASA's on-demand mobility program, and serves on the electric aviation committees of the General Aviation Manufacturers' Association (GAMA) and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Please visit us at www.eviation.co About Siemens Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 170 years. The company is active around the globe, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is a leading supplier of efficient power generation and power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure solutions as well as automation, drive and software solutions for industry. With its publicly listed subsidiary Siemens Healthineers AG, the company is also a leading provider of medical imaging equipment - such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems - and a leader in laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical IT. In fiscal 2018, which ended on September 30, 2018, Siemens generated revenue of €83.0 billion and net income of €6.1 billion. At the end of September 2018, the company had around 379,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/electric-airplane-manufacturer-eviation-partners-with-siemens-in-joint-development-of-electric-propulsion-systems-for-eviations-all-electric-alice-300798530.html Back to Top GE Aviation moving "several hundred jobs" to the Banks CINCINNATI (Cincinnati Business Courier) - GE Aviation, the General Electric Co. subsidiary that provides jet engines, components and integrated systems for commercial and military aircraft, is planning to move hundreds of employees to downtown Cincinnati. Evendale-based GE Aviation plans to move "several hundred employees" from leased space in and around the Evendale area to the GE Global Operations Center at the Banks, according to Perry Bradley, a GE Aviation spokesman. The company will be moving employees from its aviation, digital solutions and information technology teams to the 10-story, LEED-certified, 340,000-square-foot class A office building located at 191 Rosa Parks St. "We need the space, we're growing," Bradley told Business Courier reporter Tom Demeropolis. "It's a great, very modern facility that is perfect for these types of roles." https://local12.com/news/local/ge-aviation-moving-several-hundred-jobs-to-the-banks Back to Top NASA To Test Urban Unmanned Aircraft Systems Drone Traffic Management Technology NEVADA, TEXAS- NASA has selected two organizations to host the final phase of its four-year series of increasingly complicated technical demonstrations involving small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), commonly known as drones. The Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems in Las Vegas and the Lone Star UAS Center for Excellence & Innovation in Corpus Christi, Texas, will host demonstrations to confirm NASA's UAS Traffic Management (UTM) system can safely and effectively manage drone traffic in an urban area. The drone flights will take place in and around downtown Reno, Nevada between March and June, and Corpus Christi during July and August. "This phase represents the most complicated demonstration of advanced UAS operating in a demanding urban environment that will have been tested to date," said Ronald Johnson, NASA's UTM project manager. "We are pleased at the plans by our partners in Nevada and Texas to conduct flight tests in a true urban environment with the support of the City of Reno and the City of Corpus Christi." With these demonstrations, NASA and its partners including the Federal Aviation Administration, aim to help the commercial drone industry understand the challenges posed by flying in an urban environment. Results of the flight demonstrations also will help inform future rules, policies and traffic management procedures for operating drones safely over populated areas. Key technologies to be demonstrated include: airspace regulator Flight Information Management System, the UAS Service Supplier interface for multiple independent UAS traffic management service providers, and their interface with vehicle integrated detect-and-avoid capabilities, vehicle-to-vehicle communication and collision avoidance, and automated safe landing technologies. "We are very excited to partner with NASA on such an important program that will have a significant innovative impact on the global UAS Industry," said Chris Walach, the Nevada organization's senior director. Mike Sanders, acting executive director of the Texas organization, added, "This series of tests is a critical step in enabling the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems within an urban environment." The UTM project is part of the Airspace Operations and Safety Program in NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate. http://spacecoastdaily.com/2019/02/nasa-to-test-urban-unmanned-aircraft-systems-drone-traffic-management-technology/ Back to Top ECSU signs aviation science agreement with community colleges Three North Carolina community colleges have joined forces with Elizabeth City State University to educate the next generation of aviators. During an articulation agreement ceremony Friday, Feb. 15, ECSU officials signed agreements with officials from three North Carolina community colleges: Guilford Technical Community College, Lenoir Community College, and Sandhills Community College. The agreement with the colleges will bring community college transfer students to ECSU's signature aviation science program in Elizabeth City. "This is an important partnership with three very exciting community colleges," said ECSU Chancellor Dixon. "Aviation Science is our signature program that makes us unique from any other university in North Carolina." ECSU is the only four-year university in North Carolina offering a bachelor's degree in aviation science. The university currently operates a 10-fleet airplane flight program and fall 2019 will launch a bachelor program in unmanned aerial systems, or drones. The three community colleges currently offer aviation programs and according to school officials, have not been able to transfer students to a public North Carolina university to advance their aviation degree work, until now. Dr. Rusty Hunt, president of Lenoir Community College, said his program has been in operation for 49 years, educating students in aviation management and flight instruction. "But what we have not had in the past is the ability to partner with a North Carolina four-year program," he said. "We have had to send students elsewhere." Nicholas Yale, the aviation director at Guilford Community College, said this agreement is providing a "pathway that wasn't there before." He noted that students who wish to move up the aviation career ladder require a bachelor degree and this agreement will give them that opportunity. "This is an historic event," Yale said. "It is key to the development of the industry and of the students." Currently, the aviation industry is experiencing a shortage of pilots and more pilots are due to retire over the next decade, making aviation one of the fastest growing career fields in the country. Drone technology, according to ECSU Aviation Science Program Director, Dr. Kuldeep Rawat, offers more than 400 areas for career advancement, including agriculture, homeland security, and emergency management. https://www.kinston.com/news/20190219/ecsu-signs-aviation-science-agreement-with-community-colleges Back to Top Farsoon and Airbus sign R&D collaboration for polymer 3D printing and civil aviation Chinese additive manufacturing company Farsoon Technologies is teaming up with Airbus Beijing Engineering Centre Co., Ltd. (ABEC) to establish an R&D program for polymer 3D printing in civil aviation. The partnership agreement signals the first time that the aerospace giant has collaborated with a polymer AM specialist from China. Through the partnership, the companies will leverage Farsoon's expertise in polymer additive manufacturing to develop a high-performance 3D printable polymer for use in aircraft manufacturing. The material will be used in combination with Farsoon's polymer AM platforms (comprising the 252P Series, 403P Series, eForm and most recent HT1001P). Beyond developing the aerospace-grade material, Farsoon will also work closely with Airbus to establish optimized process parameters for the material and its open platform AM systems. Airbus will be responsible for validating the properties and performance of the AM platform and material to meet civil aviation requirements. "We are very excited to start this R&D collaboration with Airbus," stated Dr. Xu Xiaoshu, Founder of Farsoon. "As a leading industrial AM solution provider, Farsoon has been pushing towards the transition of AM applications from prototyping to manufacturing. We believe AM technology will be increasingly used in aerospace & aviation manufacturing. In the future, by joining hands with Airbus, Farsoon will be able to contribute to the full workflow for AM production in civil aviation." Founded in 2009, China-based Farsoon Technologies has expanded globally in recent years with offices in North Americaand Europe. Since its beginnings the company has placed an important focus on the development of open platform systems, enabling its customers to innovate with its systems and adapt them. In line with this, the company maintains an "Open for Industry" philosophy through which it partners with companies from various industries to explore new industrial applications for additive manufacturing. "It is the first time for Airbus to cooperate with Chinese company in polymer AM industry," said Michel Tran Van, General Manager of ABEC. "Airbus has been keep toned with the development of the AM technology, and we are impressed by Farsoon's capability of innovation and industrial focus. "Airbus is looking for more than the performance of new material. We need to keep in mind what industrializing AM needs, including workflows development, cost management, industrial manufacturing capabilities and speed. With the same goal of industrialization, I look forward to the R&D results of this collaboration, and I believe we will carry out more cooperation in the future." https://www.3dprintingmedia.network/farsoon-airbus-polymer-3d-aviation/ Back to Top SpaceX is about to launch an Israeli mission to the moon. If successful, it would be the world's first private lunar landing. SpaceX, the rocket company founded by Elon Musk, is about to launch the first private lunar lander. Whether or not the moon mission succeeds, the effort will carry lasting significance to Israel and the country's nascent space industry. But if everything works as planned, Israel will become the fourth nation ever to land on the lunar surface. (Japan, India, and Europe have crashed probes into the lunar surface but not gently set down any robots.) The $100 million mission is headed by a nonprofit called SpaceIL(the "IL" in the name stands for "Israel"), which designed and built a 1,300-pound robotic spacecraft called "Beresheet." That's Hebrew for "in the beginning," which is the first phrase in Genesis in the Bible. Beresheet - which is equipped with cameras, magnetic sensors, and transmitters to relay data to and from to Earth - now awaits launch inside the top of a Falcon 9 rocket in Cape Canaveral, Florida. SpaceX's rocket should lift off on Thursday evening at 8:45 p.m. EST, barring technical glitches and bad weather. (The US Air Force predicted an 80% chance of launch as of Wednesday.) Morris Kahn, a South African-born entrepreneur and billionaire who lives in Israel, is the biggest funder of the SpaceIL mission. In an interview with Business Insider, Kahn said he's shouldered about $43 million of the $100 million that has been spent on development and on the SpaceX rocket launch. "I wanted to show that Israel - this little country with a population of about 6 or 8 million people - could actually do a job that was only done by three major powers in the world: Russia, China, and the United States," Kahn said. "Could Israel innovate and actually achieve this objective with a smaller budget, and being a smaller country, and without a big space industry backing it?" This week, the world will find out. 'Without money, you're not going to get anywhere' In early 2011, Kahn attended an international space conference in Israel, where a presentation by three young engineers - Yariv Bash, Kfir Damari, and Yonatan Winetraub- caught his attention. "They said that they were going to participate in a Google competition. It was an XPrize competition to put a spacecraft on the moon and win a $20 million prize," Kahn said. "They seemed very proud of themselves, and I thought that this was rather neat." That competition was the Google Lunar XPRIZE, which started in September 2007. It dangled tens of millions of dollars in prize money with the hope of spurring a private company to land a robot on the moon by 2014. After the SpaceIL presentation, Kahn - who at the time had a net worth to close $1 billion- asked the group's leaders if they had any money. "They said, 'Money? Money, what's that for?' I said, 'Without money, you're not going to get anywhere,'" Kahn said. "I said to them, 'Look, come to my office, I'll give you $100,000 - no questions asked - and you can start.' And that was how I innocently got involved in this tremendous project." Kahn said "the project really began to chew up money" early on, so he asked for a budget. The team came back with an estimate of $8 million for research, development, and testing, and about $5 million for a rocket launch - "quite a lot of money," Kahn said. But he initially agreed to pay for the rocket launch. "I don't want to be the richest man in the cemetery. I'd like to feel that I've used my money productively," Kahn said. "I'd also like to see that I've used it in a way that I enjoy. I enjoy this process." Over time, the organizers of the Google Lunar XPrize kept pushing back the contest's 2014 deadline. But the competition was ultimatelyshuttered in January 2018 without a winner. Nevertheless, SpaceIL was intent on moving ahead, and Kahn kept supplying cash. "Slowly, I sucked myself into this project and I had no idea where it was going to take me," Kahn said. "Today I know. It's taken us roughly $100 million. That's a tremendous amount of money." He also helped fundraise from other sources, including roughly $2 million from the Israeli government. Kahn said it was not easy to raise the money, but he appealed to the national pride of Israelis. "Putting a spacecraft on on the moon is a little bit of a kind of a weird project," Kahn said. "It almost seems un-doable, and even if it was doable, it takes somebody with imagination to actually see why you would do it." Still, $100 million is a pittance compared to the $469 million that NASA spent in the 1960s on seven similarly sized Surveyor lunar landers. When adjusted for inflation, that sum is roughly $3.5 billion today - about $500 million per mission. How SpaceIL will use SpaceX to land on the moon The moon is about 239,000 miles away from Earth, but the biggest challenge in getting there is harnessing enough energy to climb out of our planet's gravity field. For example, sending three Apollo astronauts, a small space capsule, and a two-person lunar lander vehicle required a 36-story Saturn V rocket filled with millions of pounds of fuel. To achieve a lunar landing on a tight budget, SpaceIL claims its robot "will be the smallest spacecraft to land on the moon to date." Beresheet is just shy of 5 feet tall when tucked into position for launch, making it relatively easy to squeeze aboard a rocket. Because the spacecraft was built to be light, it has no cooling system and will overheat in the blistering sun on the moon after perhaps three days. The robot is also cutting costs by not launching alone. It will instead "piggyback" into space with a much larger payload: an Indonesian communications satellite called "Nusantara Satu" or PSN 6. On SpaceX's end, the plan is to launch both spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket with an already twice-used booster. Launching the refurbished booster for a third time could net SpaceX millions (if not tens of millions) of dollars. SpaceIL declined to share how much it's actually paying for the launch. But pricing tables from the company in charge of arranging the rocket rideshare, called Spaceflight Industries, suggest that Beresheet's launch may cost about $22.5 million - far less than the$62 million list price of an exclusive ride on a Falcon 9. To lower Beresheet's weight and launch price, SpaceIL also chose a roughly 2.5-month trip from launch to landing. (By comparison, it took Apollo astronauts just four days after launch to land on the moon.) "Once it disengages from the launch rocket, the spacecraft will begin orbiting Earth in continuously larger elliptical orbits, ultimately covering a total distance of 9 million kilometers [5.6 million miles]," SpaceIL said. "This long and complex course was chosen as it will allow completing the journey to the moon with minimal fuel consumption." About 75% of Beresheet's mass is made up of fuel, which will propel it into lunar orbit - a trip that will take the probe about six weeks. Once the moon's gravity captures the robot around April 4, it will shrink its orbit over the next week. A final burn of Beresheet's rocket engine on April 11 will bring it down to the lunar surface in about 15 minutes. The probe will navigate its lunar landing using autonomous software and a computer about as powerful as a smartphone. A set of 3D-printed legs will cushion the last 16 feet of its free-fall. "The spacecraft will use various sensors to measure its location and height in relation to the moon's surface," SpaceIL said. "The ground team will not be able to intervene during the landing process." During its descent and after landing, the lander is supposed to record video and panoramic photos while beaming footage to a control room at Israel Aerospace Industries in Yehud. "It will be possible to operate all the spacecraft's systems from this control room," SpaceIL said. What the first private lunar lander will do on the moon The planned landing site for Beresheet is Mare Serenitatis, or the "Sea of Serenity," in the northern hemisphere of the moon. It's a dark lava-covered site of an ancient volcanic eruption. The area is also a source of magnetic and gravitational anomalies, and - in popular culture - the left eye of the "man in the moon." Until it overheats, Beresheet will take measurements of the moon's magnetic field there using an instrument supplied by the University of California, Los Angeles. SpaceIL plans to share the data it collects with NASA and other space agencies. The spacecraft may also try to "hop" to another location using its thrusters. Kahn says the scientific mission is not as important as what Beresheet's landing would symbolize, true to the meaning of its name. "This project of ours will take Israel into deep space. I think this is a new frontier and actually what we're doing - this is the first nongovernmental project to go to the moon," Kahn said. "I think others will follow us. In fact, I'm sure others will follow us." Retired NASA astronaut Scott Parazynski also sees the mission as stepping stone to a larger future for Israel's space industry, which is already known for satellite manufacturing. "Israel is such a incredible technological powerhouse. And so I think it's extraordinary that now, non-space-faring nations - in other words, those that don't have the capacity to necessarily launch their own astronauts - are now able to launch major payloads like this," Parazynski told Business Insider. "Perhaps in the not-too-distant future, they will be able to also launch their own astronauts." Kahn said there is "no guarantee" the mission will succeed - "It just takes one little glitch and we'll actually fly off into space and lose control," he added. But even if it fails, he thinks the "Apollo effect" of encouraging young Israelis to dream big about their futures in science and engineering is already a success. "We've actually gotten to more than a million young students and we excited them about space," Kahn said. "That objective, I think, we've actually already achieved." https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-israel-moon-mission-launch-spaceil-lunar-lander-2019-2 Curt Lewis