Space Missions

Participation in Space Exploration Missions

Mission Scientist

Mission name: SpaceIL
Mission target: Moon
Launch: February 22, 2019 from Cape Canaveral (USA)
Web site: www.spaceil.com

Scientific instrument: SpaceIL Magnetometer (SIL-MAG)

SpaceIL is an Israeli mission aiming to land a spacecraft on the surface of the Moon as part of the Google Lunar XPrize competition.

Co-Investigator

Mission name: JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE)
Mission target: Jupiter and its moons Ganymede, Callisto and Europa
Launch: 2022 from Kourou (French Guiana), arriving at Jupiter in 2030
Web site: sci.esa.int/juice

Scientific instruments: optical camera JANUS,
radio package 3GM (Gravity & Geophysics of Jupiter and Galilean Moons)

JUICE will spend at least three years making observations of the giant gaseous planet Jupiter and three of its largest moons, Ganymede, Callisto and Europa.

Co-Investigator

Mission name: Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO)
Mission target: Moon
Launch: June 18, 2009 from Cape Canaveral (USA)
Web site: lunar.gsfc.nasa.gov

Scientific instruments: LRO Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA),
Diviner Lunar Radiometer (DLRE)

LRO is a robotic mission that set out to map the Moon's surface.

Co-Investigator

Mission name: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO)
Mission target: Mars
Launch: August 12, 2005 from Cape Canaveral (USA)
Web site: mars.nasa.gov/mro

Scientific instrument: Mars Climate Sounder (MCS)

MRO studied the surface, monitored the atmosphere, and probed underground, all to gain better knowledge of the distribution and history of Mars’ water.

Participating Scientist

Mission name: Mars Exploration Rover (MER)
Mission target: Mars
Launch: June 10, 2003, July 7, 2003 from Cape Canaveral (USA)
Web site: mars.nasa.gov/mer

MER is robotic space mission involving two Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, exploring the planet Mars.

Co-Investigator

Mission name: Cassini-Huygens
Mission target: Saturn and its moon Titan
Launch: October 15, 1997 from Cape Canaveral (USA)
Web site: saturn.jpl.nasa.gov

Scientific instrument: Cassini Radio Detection and Ranging (Cassini RADAR)

Mission includes a Saturn orbiter (Cassini) and a lander (Huygens) for the moon Titan.
Mission name: Mars Global Surveyor (MGS)
Mission target: Mars
Launch: November 7, 1996 from Cape Canaveral (USA)
Web site: mars.nasa.gov/mgs

Scientific instrument: Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA)

MGS was a global mapping mission that carried a suite of science instruments for studying the entire Martian surface, atmosphere, and interior.
Mission name: Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR Shoemaker)
Mission target: asteroid 433 Eros
Launch: February 17, 1996 from Cape Canaveral (USA)
Web site: near.jhuapl.edu

Scientific instrument: NEAR Laser Rangefinder (NLR)

NEAR Shoemaker was a robotic space probe designed to study the near-Earth asteroid Eros from close orbit over a period of a year.