The Israeli start-up behind last week's failed lunar landing says human error may have caused the spacecraft to crash into the moon.

SpaceIL, the non-profit that undertook the botched lunar mission, said Thursday that its engineers collectively decided to restart the inertial measurement unit, a critical part of the spacecraft's guidance system, following its malfunction in the lander's final descent.

This photo was taken by the Israeli spacecraft Beresheet about 22 kilometres above the moon's surface as it prepared to land. It crash-landed after its engine shut off before reaching the surface.

Israeli spacecraft near moon

The team says the command triggered a "chain of events" that culminated in the spacecraft slamming into the moon, otherwise "things may have been OK, but we're still not sure."

SpaceIL says it will continue to analyze the fatal glitch and publish a formal assessment in the coming weeks.

Had the mission succeeded, it would have marked a first for Israel and for privately-funded lunar voyages.

Shortly after the lander crashed, the Google XPrize Foundation announced it was awarding the first of its $1 million USD&nbsp;Moonshot Award to SpaceIL "in honour of their achievements and their milestone as the first privately funded entity to orbit the the moon."

They may not have had a successful landing this time, but <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamSpaceIL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TeamSpaceIL</a> has still made history. They will be the recipients of our first ever $1M Moonshot Award, in honor of their achievements and their milestone as the first privately-funded entity to orbit the Moon. 🌒 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/moonshot?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#moonshot</a> <a href="https://t.co/ErUfjqvvxY">pic.twitter.com/ErUfjqvvxY</a>

Lunar science, artificial intelligence and robotics featured in Canada's new space strategy

After years of calling for clearer direction in the country’s space program, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Navdeep Bains unveiled Canada's new space strategy from Edmonton Wednesday afternoon.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces that Canada will take part in an international lunar space station project at the Canadian Space Agency headquarters Thursday, February 28, 2019 in St. Hubert, Que.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Trudeau Space Agency 20190228

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces Canada will take part in an international lunar space station project, at the Canadian Space Agency headquarters in St. Hubert, Que., on Feb. 28. On Wednesday, Science Minister Navdeep Bains will reveal Canada's new space strategy.

SpaceX rocket blasts off carrying Israeli lunar lander

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from Florida on Thursday night carrying Israel's first lunar lander on a mission that, if successful, will make the Jewish state only the fourth nation to ever to achieve a controlled touchdown on the moon's surface.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying Israel's first spacecraft designed to land on the moon lifts off on the first privately-funded lunar mission at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S., February 21, 2019. 

SPACE-MOON/ISRAEL

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying Israel's first spacecraft designed to land on the moon lifted off on a privately-funded lunar mission from Cape Canaveral, Fla., Thursday evening.

This image was taken by Israeli spacecraft, Beresheet, as it attempted to land on the moon.

Human error may have caused Israeli lander to crash land on moon

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