Rashid Rover 2 is all set to take on the rugged surface of the Moon following a comprehensive series of environmental and functional tests conducted in the UAE.
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) announced the successful completion of the development of the Emirates Lunar Mission’s Rashid Rover 2, which has now been sent to the United States. It will begin its next phase of preparations with Firefly Aerospace for its launch to the far side of the Moon in 2026.
MBRSC and Texas-based Firefly Aerospace signed an agreement earlier this year, under which the lunar lander will carry Rashid Rover 2 to the Moon.
Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Chairman of MBRSC, commented: “The milestone is a testament to our nation’s advancing capabilities in space science and technology. Each milestone brings us closer to shaping a sustainable and knowledge-driven space future for generations to come.”
Salem Humaid Al Marri, Director General of MBRSC, added: “The completion of Rashid Rover 2 is a decisive step in advancing the UAE’s ambitions for lunar exploration, driven by the pursuit of new science and the desire to push the limits of what is possible.”
The Emirates Lunar Mission is funded by the ICT Fund of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA).
Firefly’s Blue Ghost Mission 1, named Ghost Riders in the Sky, was launched on January 15 and performed the first fully successful commercial Moon landing on March 2. Blue Ghost then completed more than 14 days of surface operations (346 hours of daylight) and just over five hours of operations into the lunar night. This achievement marks the longest commercial operations on the Moon to date.
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