UAE to deploy Rashid 2 Rover on the far side of the moon as part of its Lunar Mission

Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) and US-based Firefly Aerospace signed a historic deal to place the UAE's Rashid 2 Rover on the moon's far side as part of the Lunar Mission, which boosted the country's space aspirations. As per the deal, the lunar lander needed to launch the Rashid 2 Rover will be supplied by Firefly Aerospace. On Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander, which is placed atop the Elytra Dark orbital rocket, the Rashid 2 Rover will be sent to the Moon's far side. In 2026, Firefly Aerospace's second lunar mission, Blue Ghost Mission 2, will include the Rashid 2 Rover in addition to payloads from NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and Australia.

The Rashid 2 Rover, which will show lunar surface mobility on the moon's far side, where communication and terrain present more difficulties than on the near side, has a set of ambitious scientific aims laid forth by MBRSC. The rover will participate in the material adhesion determination experiment as part of the mission, which will test the durability of several materials on its wheels against lunar dust. Future technology like spacesuits, habitats, and other vital infrastructure can be designed with the help of the research.

The Rashid 2 Rover will investigate the moon's temperature parameters, geology, and plasma environment using its several cameras and scientific sensors. In order to enable future in-situ resource utilization and promote deeper space exploration, it will also examine the lunar soil's characteristics, surface structure temperatures, and the lunar photoelectron sheath. In order to communicate with other payloads throughout the mission, the rover will also be equipped with a radio transmitter.