SpaceIL, a nonprofit organization aiming to land the first Israeli spacecraft on the Moon and a leading contestant in the prestigious Google Lunar X Prize (GLXP) competition, announces the launch of its crowdfunding campaign on Indigogo. The campaign is designed to not only raise funds for the highly innovative lunar project, but also to engage as broad an audience as possible with its mission to the Moon.

The organization is seeking to raise $240,000, one dollar for each mile to the Moon. The funds, which the organization hopes will complete their current round of funding, will be put toward fuel costs – which total $500,000. Any additional funds raised will help support SpaceIL’s core mission of creating an Israeli “Apollo Effect,” inspiring the next generation to think differently about science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

SpaceIL is building the world’s smallest spacecraft loaded with groundbreaking innovation in deep space exploration. The organization aims to show that space exploration is no longer limited to global superpowers with vast space programs, and that any group, small country or university can get involved and contribute to advancing scientific discovery. They also intend for their technological breakthroughs to spur a new wave of commercial space-related industries.

“We’re excited to harness the power of the Indiegogo platform to raise awareness and build involvement with SpaceIL. We have great momentum and a lot of inspiration to share and hope as many people as possible will come aboard and join our mission to the Moon,” says SpaceIL CEO Eran Privman.

About SpaceIL

SpaceIL is an Israeli nonprofit founded at the end of 2010, when three young engineers with the dream of landing the first Israeli spacecraft on the Moon entered the Google Lunar X Prize (GLPX) competition. In just three years, the organization has scaled into a national movement comprised of nearly twenty full-time staff, over 250 volunteers, and a network of hundreds of renowned academics, business leaders, and industry experts. Aside from landing on the moon, SpaceIL’s collective vision is to create a new Israeli “Apollo Effect,” to excite and inspire the next generation about science, engineering, technology and math and help fill country’s urgent need for more scientists and engineers.

For more information: www.spaceil.com

About Indiegogo

Indiegogo empowers people around the world to fund what matters to them. As the largest global crowdfunding platform, campaigns have launched from almost every country around the world with millions of dollars being distributed every week due to contributions made by the Indiegogo community. At its core, Indiegogo is an open platform dedicated to democratizing the way people raise funds for any project – creative, entrepreneurial or cause-related. The company was launched in 2008 and is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in Los Angeles and New York. For more information, visit www.indiegogo.com and follow us at www.twitter.com/indiegogo and www.facebook.com/indiegogo.

Contact:
SpaceIL
USA
Scott Rosenblum, 212-905-6060
scott@trylonSMR.com
or
Lloyd Trufelman, 212-905-6060
lloyd@trylonSMR.com
or
ISRAEL
Hadass Tesher, 054 449 3131
hadass@tesher.com
or
Indiegogo
press@indiegogo.com