The unmanned space probe Beresheet, carrying tardigrades known for their resilience, crashed on the Moon in 2019. Despite concerns about potential contamination and colonization by the tardigrades, it is unlikely as they would not survive the harsh lunar conditions. However, their presence raises ethical questions and highlights the importance of preventing contamination of other planets during space exploration.
The fate of the second Israeli lunar lander, Beresheet 2, is uncertain as the organization developing it has lost a major source of funding. The mission, which was scheduled to launch in 2025, had relied on philanthropic donations, but a group of donors announced in May that they were halting future payments after spending $45 million. SpaceIL, the non-profit organization behind the mission, has not provided any updates on alternative funding efforts. The first Israeli lunar lander, Beresheet, crashed during its attempted landing in 2019.
