The United Arab Emirates’ Rashid Lunar Rover Is Scheduled To Touch Down On The Moon In Only Four Days
With the announcement of a revised liftoff date and time, the United Arab Emirates has officially begun counting down to the launch of the first UAE mission to the Moon. According to a statement released by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) on Wednesday, the initial launch attempt was delayed to give SpaceX more time to conduct pre-flight checks of the launch vehicle. The Japanese lunar exploration company ispace will send the United Arab Emirate’s Rashid Lunar rover to the moon on its Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander. The launch is set for 11:38 a.m. UAE time on December 11, 2022.
The Rashid Lunar Rover
The Rashid lunar rover was built by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in Dubai, UAE, and will be delivered to the moon’s surface by the HAKUTO-R lander, which was designed and built by ispace. A spacecraft called a lander is capable of landing on a planet’s surface. The ship’s powerful propulsion and navigation systems ensure that its cargo arrives at its destination unscathed. With a successful landing, HAKUTO-R will join the ranks of the few privately sponsored spacecraft to touch down on the Moon. Last month, Rashid was incorporated into the lander, and the whole package was scheduled to be sent to the launch site at that time. Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla, also founded SpaceX, and his rocket will launch the expedition into orbit.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will carry out the launch from Space Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The four-wheeled rover, which weighs 10 kg, is equipped with high-resolution cameras and designed to take hundreds of pictures of its surroundings. The lander will be carried into orbit by the Falcon 9 rocket on launch day, and from there, it will begin its solitary voyage to the Moon. To launch into space, the reusable rocket produces a thrust of more than 771 tons at sea level.
On a low-energy trajectory, the mission will reach the moon’s surface in April 2023. Once the rover has reached the surface, it will spend one lunar day (equivalent to 14.75 days on Earth) carrying out its primary objective. Spending its second lunar day conducting secondary operations, the Rashid rover will test its resilience against the harsh lunar night.
Ispace founder Takeshi Hakamada claims that the company’s main objective will pave the way for the Moon’s potential to be fully realized and for the Moon to be transformed into a thriving economic system.
The UAE sees this as the start of great things to come. They declared plans for a multi-mission, long-term program to explore the Moon. Rashid 2 is already in development. In 2026, China will help UAE launch the rover to the lunar south pole as part of the Chang’e-7 mission.
Last Updated on 10 months by News Editor
