NASA head congratulates Israel on successful Moon mission

NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine congratulated the Israeli team on the launch of their first mission beyond Earth's orbit.

"This is a historic step for all nations and commercial space as we look to extend our collaborations beyond low-Earth orbit and on to the Moon," he said.

Falcon 9 rocket took off from Cape Canaveral in Florida on Thursday night carrying Israel's Beresheet spacecraft, aiming to make history twice: as the first private-sector landing on the Moon, and the first from Israel, AFP reported.