Latest: How to watch UAE Rashid rover's Moon landing on April 25
An augmented reality experience allows users to see the UAE's Rashid rover journeying on the Moon from the comfort of their own homes.
The rover, built by engineers at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, is expected to land on the lunar surface on April 25.
The space centre has teamed up with Atlantic Productions to create the interactive educational AR experience, available on iPhone and Android phones for free.
“Our aim is to ignite curiosity and engage people of all ages in the exploration of the Moon's surface alongside the Rashid Rover,” Salem Al Marri, director-general of the centre, said.
“With this interactive AR experience, we hope to inspire imagination and foster interest in space, science and technology.”
This is the first mission under the country's long-term Moon exploration programme.
The rover is travelling on the Japanese Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander, which will attempt the landing at 8.40pm on Tuesday.
If it succeeds, the rover will spend about two weeks studying the Moon's geology, soil and dust and take thousands of images.
How to see Rashid rover using AR
The AR experience is online at http://rover.atlanticproductions.tv and is available in English and Arabic.
Once the video begins, an animation of the Moon's surface appears on the screen.
The Rashid rover then appears from a portal and travels on to the lunar surface.
The first message says: “A small rover but with an important mission — to explore a part of the Moon that has never been visited before.”
The AR experience continues with the Rashid rover moving around the lunar surface, with different messages to explain what it will be studying.
Hakuto-R M1 will attempt a landing on the Atlas crater in the Mare Frigoris region of the Moon's near side, facing Earth.
Ispace says three alternative landing sites have been selected as a precaution.
If the first attempt is delayed, other possible landing dates are April 26, May 1 and May 3.
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
EXPATS
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Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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If you go
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
The cruise
The Gypsy by Mekong Kingdoms has two cruising options: a three-night, four-day trip upstream cruise or a two-night, three-day downstream journey, from US$5,940 (Dh21,814), including meals, selected drinks, excursions and transfers.
The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
