Israeli spacecraft Beresheet reaches moon but landing unsuccessful: support team

An image taken by Israel spacecraft, Beresheet, upon its landing on the moon, obtained by Reuters from Space IL on April 11, 2019. Courtesy Space IL/Handout via REUTERS

YEHUD, Israel (Reuters) - The Israeli spacecraft Beresheet reached the moon on Thursday but its planned controlled, or "soft", landing was unsuccessful, the support team said.

The spacecraft had a number of technical problems during its final descent to the lunar surface, the team said.

Members of Israeli non-profit group SpaceIL and representatives from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) do a selfie in front of a model of Beresheet spacecraft, near the control room, in Yahud, Israel April 11, 2019 REUTERS/Amir Cohen

(Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

Members of the Israel spacecraft, Beresheet, are seen in the control room in Yahud, Israel April 11, 2019. Courtesy Space IL/Handout via REUTERS