Mission scheduled for 2026
Firefly Aerospace, the Texas-based end-to-end responsive space company, has signed a strategic agreement with the United Arab Emirates’ Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) to deliver the Rashid Rover 2 to the far side of the Moon.
This groundbreaking lunar mission, scheduled for 2026, will see the UAE join an elite group of nations exploring one of the most mysterious regions of the lunar surface. The partnership represents a significant leap for the UAE’s space ambitions and reinforces Firefly’s growing role in supporting global lunar science.
Firefly Aerospace, known for its full-spectrum space services, will carry out the mission using its versatile Blue Ghost lander, supported by the Elytra orbital transfer vehicle.
The mission will be Firefly’s second Moon landing, including payloads from the European Space Agency (ESA), Nasa, and Australia’s Fleet Space under Nasa’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative.
The Rashid Rover 2, developed and built by Dubai-headquartered MBRSC, will operate in one of the solar system’s most challenging environments. Its mission includes mobility demonstrations across the rugged lunar surface and testing new materials for wheel durability against abrasive lunar dust.
Jason Kim, CEO of Firefly Aerospace, highlighted the mission’s symbolic and scientific value. “On the heels of Firefly’s flawless Moon landing and operations, our team is looking forward to collaborating with the UAE and further expanding our representation of Artemis Accords nations on this groundbreaking mission to the far side of the Moon.”
“We’re honoured to support the international space community with our versatile Blue Ghost lander and Elytra spacecraft that can stack together to provide unique access to lunar orbit and the lunar surface.”
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Salem Humaid Al Marri, Director General of MBRSC, stated: “The strategic agreement signed with Firefly Aerospace marks a significant advancement in the UAE’s growing role in shaping the future of lunar exploration. Through the Emirates Lunar Mission’s Rashid Rover 2, the UAE will become one of the few nations to explore the far side of the Moon.
“The mission will deliver valuable scientific data on the lunar surface, plasma environment, and dust behaviour — contributing to global knowledge and supporting future lunar infrastructure development.”
Lunar surface investigations
The scientific instruments aboard Rashid Rover 2 will investigate the Moon’s plasma environment, thermal characteristics, and surface composition. These findings are expected to inform the design of future technologies, including lunar habitats, power systems, and next-generation spacesuits.
The MBRSC’s Rashid Rover 1 crashed on the lunar surface on April 26, 2023, after the Japanese Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander, which was carrying it, failed to achieve a soft landing. The crash was attributed to an altitude miscalculation that led to the lander running out of fuel before touchdown. The Hakuto-R lander was built by the Japanese company ispace, which is now planning a second mission to the lunar surface.
As part of Blue Ghost Mission 2, Firefly’s Elytra spacecraft and the ESA’s Lunar Pathfinder satellite will first place the lander in lunar orbit. The Blue Ghost will then precisely descend to the Moon’s far side, delivering the Rashid 2 Rover and several high-impact payloads.
These include Australia’s Fleet Space Spider, a geophysical payload designed for lunar exploration, and Nasa’s LuSEE-Night radio telescope, which will operate during the lunar night to study cosmic radio signals. Elytra will stay in orbit to facilitate communications between the payloads on the surface and Earth, ensuring uninterrupted data transmission and support.
These components are expected to advance the lunar science ecosystem in key areas, including resource mapping, surface mobility, deep space communications, and cosmological research.
Firefly Aerospace has already cemented its place in space exploration history. On March 2, 2025, Blue Origin’s Blue Origin 1 landed the first entirely successful commercial Moon at the Mare Crisium basin on the Moon’s near side. That mission carried 10 Nasa instruments as part of the CLPS programme and remained active on the surface for 14 days, concluding operations on 16 March.
The mission marked the longest commercial operation on the Moon and yielded a rich trove of scientific data. Firefly’s lander captured spectacular images, including a lunar sunset and a rare total solar eclipse. The mission’s success laid the foundation for continued collaboration between Firefly, Nasa, and international partners.
Preparations for Blue Ghost Mission 2 are well underway. Firefly has already begun qualifying and assembling the flight hardware for the upcoming mission. With growing international interest in lunar exploration and the sustained momentum of Nasa’s Artemis campaign, the mission will be critical in developing a sustainable human presence on the Moon.
Hero image: A rendering of the Blue Ghost lander and the Rashid Rover 2 on the far side of the Moon. Credit: Firefly Aerospace
