His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Prime Minister, Vice President, and Ruler of Dubai, revealed that the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) will embark on a new lunar mission named Rashid 2.
Accompanied by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed visited the team at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre responsible for the UAE’s initial effort to land a rover on the moon. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed emphasized the significance of determination in the space industry’s success and stated that the UAE would continue to launch new space exploration missions. Despite the failed attempt to land the Rashid Rover on the moon, His Highness noted that “we maintained our high aspirations.”
“Emiratis have proved their ability to develop advanced space projects and rapidly create a vibrant national space sector,” His Highness further said. “The UAE built a space sector from scratch within just 10 years. The Rashid Rover mission was driven by the country’s ambitious vision for space exploration,” His Highness added.
In response to the failed lunar landing attempt by the Emirates Lunar Mission (ELM), H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed expressed that any space mission carries a high level of risk, which is managed scientifically and systematically to promote exploration and experimentation. He reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to developing expertise and building an advanced space sector. Sheikh Hamdan interacted with the MBRSC team, quoting Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid’s statement that “The biggest risk in life is not taking any risk.” He added that the UAE is entering a new phase of space exploration and announced the launch of the Rashid 2 project under the direction of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Following the unsuccessful landing of the HAKUTO-R lander, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed met with the national team of the Emirates Lunar Mission (ELM). The MBRSC achieved its goal of designing and building the world’s smallest rover through the ELM and became the first Emirati and Arab rover to orbit the moon before the landing attempt with iSpace’s HAKUTO-R lander. These accomplishments mark a significant milestone for the UAE’s first lunar mission and demonstrate the country’s dedication to space exploration, according to WAM.
The ELM launched the Rashid Rover aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on December 11th at 11:38 UAE time from Cape Canaveral Space Force’s Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) and marked the first Emirati lunar mission, making the UAE the first Arab country to travel towards the lunar surface.
The Rashid Rover, which is the world’s most compact rover, was designed to explore the Moon’s surface with a unique configuration. It has a height of about 80 centimeters, a length of around 53.5 centimeters, and a width of close to 53.85 centimeters, weighing approximately 10 kilograms.
MBRSC collaborated with 10 international and four UAE-based entities for the science program of the Emirates Lunar Mission. Nearly 40 scientists and researchers helped MBRSC develop the main instruments, including the optical cameras, microscopic imager, and Langmuir probe onboard the Rashid Rover. In addition to H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the visit to MBRSC was attended by Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Talal Humaid Belhoul Al Falasi, Hamad Obaid AlMansoori, Salem Al Marri, and several senior officials of the Centre.
