The live-streamed launch of the UAE’s Rashid rover in December 2022.
The live-streamed launch of the UAE’s Rashid rover in December 2022.
The Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander carrying the rover is expected to land on the Moon at the end of April.
The Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander carrying the rover is expected to land on the Moon at the end of April.
The lander is expected to attempt a lunar orbit insertion towards the end of March.
The lander is expected to attempt a lunar orbit insertion towards the end of March.
The spacecraft has travelled about 1.37 million km since being launched.
The spacecraft has travelled about 1.37 million km since being launched.
The lander is the first privately funded spacecraft to travel that far. Photo: ispace
The lander is the first privately funded spacecraft to travel that far. Photo: ispace
The Rashid rover is the first mission under the UAE's long-term Moon exploration programme.
The Rashid rover is the first mission under the UAE's long-term Moon exploration programme.
Landing on the Moon is challenging, with more than a third of lunar landing missions failing.
Landing on the Moon is challenging, with more than a third of lunar landing missions failing.
The Moon has no atmosphere, forcing landers to perform complex manoeuvres to achieve a soft landing.
The Moon has no atmosphere, forcing landers to perform complex manoeuvres to achieve a soft landing.
Only the US, former Soviet Union and China have achieved a soft landing on the Moon.
Only the US, former Soviet Union and China have achieved a soft landing on the Moon.
The 10-kilogram exploration rover will study the geography of the lunar surface.
The 10-kilogram exploration rover will study the geography of the lunar surface.
The team also hope the rover can survive a lunar night, when temperatures plunge to minus 183°C.
The team also hope the rover can survive a lunar night, when temperatures plunge to minus 183°C.
The Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander is taking a longer route to save on fuel and reduce costs.
The Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander is taking a longer route to save on fuel and reduce costs.
The lander in space after detaching from SpaceX's rocket. Photo: SpaceX
The lander in space after detaching from SpaceX's rocket. Photo: SpaceX
A SpaceX engine takes the lander to a lunar transfer orbit after launch. Photo: SpaceX
A SpaceX engine takes the lander to a lunar transfer orbit after launch. Photo: SpaceX
Reem AlMehisni, rover thermal engineering chief at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Reem AlMehisni, rover thermal engineering chief at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Officials prepare for the launch at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Officials prepare for the launch at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
The control room of the space centre. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
The control room of the space centre. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Flight control teams in the Mission Control Centre. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Flight control teams in the Mission Control Centre. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
The final prototype of the Rashid rover. Photo: MBRSC
The final prototype of the Rashid rover. Photo: MBRSC
Mission Control Centre staff at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Mission Control Centre staff at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
The Mission Control Centre. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
The Mission Control Centre. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
The exterior of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
The exterior of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Emirati engineers behind the UAE's lunar mission pose for picture with the Rashid rover. Photo: MBRSC
Emirati engineers behind the UAE's lunar mission pose for picture with the Rashid rover. Photo: MBRSC
The interior of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
The interior of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

UAE

Rashid rover to reach farthest point of mission before slingshot to Moon

The rover is expected to land on the lunar surface by end of April

Sarwat Nasir
Sarwat Nasir

January 06, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE’s Rashid lunar rover is set to reach its furthest distance from Earth since launching on a SpaceX rocket last month.

It is travelling to the Moon on the Hakuto-R lander, built by Japanese company ispace, and is expected to reach the lunar surface by end of April.

As of Monday, the spacecraft had travelled about 1.24 million km from the Earth and is expected to be at its farthest point of about 1.4 million km by January 20.

Once it reaches that point, ispace may perform the third orbital control manoeuvre that will allow the lander to move closer to the Moon.

“Since its launch on December 11, the lander has maintained stable navigation in accordance with the mission plan,” an ispace representative said.

ispace has taken a longer route to save fuel. It will use a gravity assist from the Sun for the manoeuvre.

This is a technology demonstration mission by ispace that will allow the company to measure the spacecraft’s performance and prepare for more complex journeys in future.

If it manages to land successfully, it would make ispace the first company to achieve a commercial cargo mission to the Moon, with several government and private payloads on board.

Meanwhile, the Rashid rover is the Arab world’s first Moon mission. It is a 10kg rover that will study lunar soil, dust, geology and the electrically charged particles on the lunar surface.

Rashid 2, the second Moon mission by the UAE, will launch on a Chinese spacecraft in 2026.

Company name: Farmin

Date started: March 2019

Founder: Dr Ali Al Hammadi 

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: AgriTech

Initial investment: None to date

Partners/Incubators: UAE Space Agency/Krypto Labs 

Tour de France 2017: Stage 5

Vittel - La Planche de Belles Filles, 160.5km

It is a shorter stage, but one that will lead to a brutal uphill finish. This is the third visit in six editions since it was introduced to the race in 2012. Reigning champion Chris Froome won that race.

Rooney's club record

At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17

At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253

KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN MARITIME DISPUTE

2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier.

2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus

2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.

2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.

2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.

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