The UAE aims to land its Rashid rover on the lunar surface by next year, using a spacecraft built by a Japanese firm.
The Arab world’s first Moon mission was announced in 2020, with an initial launch date of 2024.
But a new partnership with iSpace means the rover can hitch a ride Japan’s iSpace’s craft next year, when it launches aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
The deal was announced by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre during a media briefing on Wednesday.
“This collaboration focuses on delivering the Rashid rover on the lunar service by 2022,” said Adnan Al Rais, Mars 2117 programme director.
Under the agreement, iSpace would also provide wired communication and power during the cruise phase and wireless communication on the lunar surface.
The robotic lunar lander is called Hakuto-Reboot, or Hakuto-R, and is the first one built by iSpace.
For now, the private Japanese firm is focusing on unmanned missions, but the long-term plan is to see 1,000 people living on the lunar surface.
“We selected iSpace because of their capabilities and the strong team they have. We’re honoured to be part of their first mission to the surface of the Moon,” said Mr Rais.
The UAE aims to land the rover on an unexplored region of the Moon.
If it successfully lands, it would carry out a number of scientific objectives, including
If the UAE’s Rashid rover lands successfully lands next year, it will carry out a number of scientific objectives.
Some of them include studying the properties of lunar soil, the petrography and geology of the Moon, dust transportation and studying the lunar surface plasma condition and photoelectron sheath.
The UAE aims to land the Rashid rover on the near side of the Moon due to its smoother surface. Courtesy: Nasa
The UAE has pinpointed five locations for the craft to land ahead of the planned 2024 mission. Courtesy: MBRSC
The far side of the Moon remains largely unexplored, but Nasa is turning its focus back to the lunar surface. Nasa
The initial concept design of the Rashid rover. Courtesy: MBRSC
Rashid rover’s thermal imager will analyse the Moon’s properties through thermal energy. Courtesy: MBRSC
The Langmuir Probes on the rover will analyse the lunar surface charge and electric fields. Courtesy: MBRSC
One of the two high-resolution optical imagers that will take photos of the Moon. Courtesy: MBRSC
Updated: April 14, 2021 11:31 AM
