Israeli spacecraft crashes into moon in bid for first private lunar landing

An Israeli spacecraft has failed in its attempt to make history as the first privately funded lunar mission. The SpaceIL spacecraft lost contact with Earth late on Thursday moments before it was to land on the moon.

"We definitely crashed on the surface of the moon," said Opher Doron of Israel Aerospace Industries.

He said the spacecraft’s engine turned off shortly before landing, and scientists were still trying to figure out the cause. The spacecraft, called Beresheet, was in pieces scattered at the landing site, he said.

Doron nonetheless called the mission an "amazing success," for reaching the moon and coming so close to landing successfully.

"It is by far the smallest, cheapest spacecraft…