Live coverage: Ariane 5 blasts off on commercial flight

The privately-funded, Israeli-built Beresheet spacecraft failed Thursday during its historic attempt to land on the moon, seeking to become the first mission to reach the lunar surface without significant government backing. The landing was expected to occur at 1925 GMT (3:25 p.m. EDT).

A Proton rocket blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 2040 GMT (4:40 p.m. EDT) Friday with Turkey’s Turksat 4B communications satellite.

An overflight last week of the Chandrayaan 2 landing site on the moon by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has turned up no clear sign of the lost Indian lander. Another flyover with better lighting conditions is scheduled next month.