Preview from RCR Entertainment Reporter, Fiona Zaring, Follow her on IG at @FionaZaring

NatGeo’s documentary Rookie Moonshot: Budget Mission to the Moon shares with viewers the incredible story of the small Israeli nonprofit organization SpaceIL. The company had one huge dream, to become the first to land a privately funded unmanned vehicle on the moon.

The special follows SpaceIL’s spacecraft Beresheet as it makes it’s journey and attempts to land on the lunar surface. Unfortunately, just hundreds of feet from its historic landing the spacecraft suffers a software glitch and crashes. The mission, unfortunately, came up short but it does make Israel one of only seven countries to orbit the moon.

The 60-minute special features exclusive behind-the-scenes access to Beresheet’s mission control, details on the risky landing attempt, and interviews with SpaceIL’s founders. Engineers and space experts also way in to give viewers a deeper insight into the ambitious mission.

The special premieres Thursday, April 25 at 9/8c on National Geographic

Photo credit: SpaceIL