Beresheet lander crash linked to efforts to fix IMU
Posted: Sat, Apr 20, 2019, 9:55 AM ET (1355 GMT)
Efforts to correct a faulty inertial measurement unit (IMU) may have led to the crash of the Beresheet lander. The IMU malfunctioned during the lander's descent to the surface, the first time that device suffered problems since the spacecraft's launch in February. Ido Anteby, CEO of SpaceIL, said a command to reactivate the IMU caused a "chain of events" that shut down the lander's main engine. Anteby said they could not restart the main engine in time to salvage the landing attempt. Meetings have already started to plan a second lander mission, including setting objectives and a budget.
