Daijiworld Media Network - UAE
UAE, Dec 12: The United Arab Emirates is one step closer to making history in space exploration as its second lunar rover, Rashid Rover 2, successfully passed critical tests in the United States. The rover is slated to travel to the Moon’s far side in 2026 aboard Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 2 lander.
Before departing the UAE, Rashid Rover 2 underwent rigorous environmental and functional evaluations. In the US, engineers collaborated with Firefly Aerospace to test its electrical systems, software, mechanical components, and wireless communication with the lander. Deployment and drive-off simulations ensured that the rover can navigate the Moon safely.
Salem Al Marri, head of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, confirmed that all tests were successful and the rover is ready for launch. Project manager Dr Hamad AlMarzooqi emphasized the mission’s focus on precision and reliability, highlighting the UAE’s broader ambitions in space exploration.
Rashid Rover 2 will explore the Moon’s far side — a region that never faces Earth and has rougher terrain with a thicker crust. Equipped with advanced cameras and scientific instruments, the rover will study surface temperature, soil composition, plasma environment, and the photoelectron sheath. The mission will also carry international instruments from Australia, NASA, and the European Space Agency, providing valuable data to plan future lunar missions and the potential use of lunar resources.
Farah Zuberi of Firefly Aerospace stated that the successful testing brings the mission closer to deployment and will unlock insights into this mysterious lunar region.
Rashid Rover 2 follows the UAE’s first attempt with Rashid Rover 1, which launched in December 2022 but was lost in April 2023 when its Japanese lander, Hakuto-R Mission 1, crashed. This second mission builds on lessons learned from that effort, aiming for a successful lunar landing.
The UAE’s lunar mission coincides with another significant achievement: the launch of 813, the first joint Arab satellite, from China. Developed collaboratively by engineers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, Sudan, Kuwait, Oman, and Lebanon, the 260-kilogram satellite will provide Earth observation data. The name 813 AD commemorates the establishment of Baghdad’s House of Wisdom. Salem Al Qubaisi, director general of the UAE Space Agency, noted that the project strengthens regional research capabilities, trains Arab talent in space science, and provides vital climate data.
Rashid Rover 2 is scheduled for launch in early 2026 for a 10-day mission on the Moon’s far side. If successful, the UAE will become only the second nation to land on this unexplored lunar region. The rover’s findings are expected to pave the way for future missions and reinforce the UAE’s expanding role in global space research.