The UAE is making significant strides in its lunar exploration efforts as the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) has completed the construction and testing of the Rashid Rover 2. The rover is now on its way to the United States for preparations ahead of its launch.
This mission is a part of the Emirates Lunar Mission, with the rover having successfully completed a comprehensive series of environmental and functional tests in the UAE. These evaluations signal the conclusion of the rover”s development phase, paving the way for its upcoming launch with Firefly Aerospace. The mission aims to explore the far side of the Moon in 2026.
Earlier this year, a strategic agreement was established between MBRSC and Firefly Aerospace for the provision of a lunar lander that will facilitate the deployment of the rover. The testing campaign included Thermal Vacuum testing conducted by the French space agency CNES in Toulouse, followed by additional verification and validation activities in the UAE.
Engineers conducted extensive tests, including solar panel performance assessments and deploying the rover”s antenna and robotic arm under simulated lunar gravity. Vibration tests were also performed to mimic the stresses associated with launch, deceleration, and landing.
“These tests represent the final steps in the current phase of validating the rover”s readiness for the challenging lunar environment and the completion of its development,” MBRSC stated.
Hamad Obaid AlMansoori, chairman of MBRSC, remarked that the completion of the Rashid Rover 2″s development is a testament to the UAE”s growing capabilities in space science and technology. He emphasized that each milestone brings the mission closer to its goal of exploration on the far side of the Moon.
Salem Humaid AlMarri, director general of MBRSC, noted that the rover”s completion is a crucial advancement in the UAE”s ambitions for lunar exploration, highlighting that this mission ventures into a frontier that very few have explored.
Project manager Hamad AlMarzooqi affirmed the successful tests ensure the rover”s resilience and readiness for its upcoming journey, with the team dedicated to validating every subsystem and achieving the mission”s scientific goals.
In related news, the UAE is also engaged in creating simulated lunar dust to support future exploration efforts. Additionally, the country recently launched its Etihad-SAT satellite into space aboard a SpaceX rocket, marking its second satellite launch within a two-month span.
