"Part of the motivation for the far-out project is to leave a copy of humanity's knowledge not just in the cloud, but far beyond the clouds, should the impacts of climate change or a potential nuclear war do us or the planet in at some point in the future."
Read that again, then ask, "Who will be left to access it?" Scripture reminds us that we maybe educated, but we're not very wise or humble.
Ok. So, tell me more about it: Israeli Moon Lander Phones Home, Deploys Legs
"Beresheet, whose name means "in the beginning" in Hebrew, is a joint project of IAI and the nonprofit organization SpaceIL. The 5-foot-tall (1.5 meters) lander will do a bit of science work during its two-Earth-day surface mission. But the mission's main goals are to put Israel firmly on the spaceflight map and to inspire young people, especially in that tiny nation, to get excited about science, technology, engineering and math."
The Beresheet Lander is expected to touch down on the Lunar surface April 11 of this year.
Scorched SpaceX rocket returns to port in Florida, ready to launch a fourth time
"The first stage powered an Indonesian communications satellite, an Israeli moon lander, and a U.S. Air Force experimental smallsat into orbit Thursday night after lifting off from Cape Canaveral’s Complex 40 launch pad...
But SpaceX’s near-term goals are focused on launching payloads for commercial and government operators, debuting the Crew Dragon spacecraft to carry astronauts for NASA, and deploying a constellation of broadband satellites that the company says will eventually number in the thousands."
It's not really capitalism in space. It's more akin to a taxpayer subsidized public-private partnership where the profits don't go to your bank account. To paraphrase F. Scott, "The rich aren't like you and me." Click the link for lots of pictures.
SpaceX launches first Crew Dragon ferry ship
"Opening a new era in American spaceflight, a Falcon 9 rocket streaked into space early Saturday, boosting the company’s first Crew Dragon spacecraft into orbit on an unpiloted test flight, the first launch of a commercially developed capsule intended to carry astronauts to and from the International Space Station.
Lighting up the deep overnight sky for miles around, the rocket’s nine first stage engines ignited and throttled up to full thrust at 2:49 a.m. EST (GMT-5), generating 1.7 million pounds of thrust and quickly thundering skyward from launch complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center."
Unpiloted SpaceX crew ship pulls off flawless station docking
"After holding position to await more favorable lighting, the spacecraft resumed its approach and eased in for docking, engaging the station's International Docking Adapter at 5:51 a.m. EST (GMT-5) as the two vehicles passed 257 miles above the Pacific Ocean north of New Zealand.
"Soft capture confirmed," mission control reported as SpaceX employees watching the rendezvous unfold at company headquarters in Hawthorne, California, burst into cheers and applause.
The linkup came 27 hours after the Crew Dragon's launch early Saturday from the Kennedy Space Center atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket."
Live coverage: First Crew Dragon links up with space station
Fascinating. Geek out, baby!