A SpaceX rocket took off from Florida's Cape Canaveral on Thursday night carrying Israel's Beresheet spacecraft, which aims to make history twice: as the first private-sector landing on the Moon, and the first from the Jewish state.

(Photo: AFP)

The start of the flight went smoothly, with the first stage entry burn completed uneventfully less than three minutes after lift-off.

The Moon landing is scheduled for seven weeks' time, on April 11.