Interview with Team SpaceIL

 Kfir Damari, Yariv Bash and Yonatan Winetraub of Team SpaceIL

Team SpaceIL of Israel demonstrates not only the genius of Israeli innovation, but also the positive correlation between having fun and giving back. The nonprofit organization dedicates its efforts to inspiring future generations of scientists by offering lectures at local schools, featuring space-themed activities for kids on their website, and donating their profits to space and science education.

Its technology relies on Israel's expertise in developing small satellites. The team has received big-name backing (both moral and financial) from several institutes, including the Asher Space Research Institute, Tel-Aviv University, and the Israeli Nano-Satellite Association. 

A SpaceIL team member lectures at a local school.

Stay up-to-date with Team SpaceIL on Facebook, or show your support by visiting their store, which sells wonderfully-geeky accessories and apparel for all ages. 

Below, Team SpaceIL manager Oshrat Slama responds to the questions posed by Erin Langley in the article, The Google Lunar XPRIZE, and Offerings for the Moon, which encourages respect and sustainability in space exploration and entrepreneurship.

1. How would you like to show respect for the Moon in a way that gives, rather than takes?

By aiming for the Moon, we are putting it in the center of public interest again, after its exploration was neglected for a long time.

2. If you could bring an offering to the Moon from your culture, what would you choose, and how would you deliver it?

We would bring a nice plate of Humus and some pitta bread, and a CD wrapped as a gift of the late Israeli singer Arik Einstein, to represent the best of Israel’s culture.

3. How can you build respect for the Moon into your design?

We consider taking a scientific experiment onto the SpaceIL spacecraft to the moon, so we could learn more, explore it better, and celebrate the Moon.

4. a) How do you propose, theoretically or actually, to retrieve your craft after it has fulfilled its purpose? b) How can we reduce our impact on current and future space expeditions?

SpaceIL is working to recreate an Apollo effect: we encourage the young kids to be the next generation of scientists and engineers, so they can bring our spacecraft back from the moon in their future Israeli space missions.

5. How can you show respect for the Moon another way, here on Earth or out in space?

As mentioned before, we show respect for the moon by vast educational activity about it.