The UAE intends to land its Rashid rover on the near side of the moon, selecting five possible locations before the landmark mission.
Officials are laying the groundwork for a planned 2024 launch, in the latest significant step forward for the country's burgeoning space sector.
The UAE's Hope Probe - the first Arab mission to Mars - is set to reach the Red Planet in February.
Now, the country has it sights firmly set on travelling to the Moon.
The mission was announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, last month.
Compared to the far side of the Moon, the near side offers a smoother surface with less craters.
The majority of lunar missions so far have explored only the Earth-facing side of the Moon, with notable exceptions including China's Chang'e-4 probe that became the first to land on the far side in 2019, the Soviet Luna 3 orbiter that captured the first images in 1959, the Apollo 8 mission in 1968 and Apollo 16.
Hamad Al Marzooqi, head of the Emirates Lunar Mission, said they are selecting areas on the Moon that remain unexplored and match a certain criteria.
"It (the location) has to have interesting features that can be explored through our science instruments," he said, during a virtual forum held by the Italian Embassy in the UAE on Thursday.
"The area should have no slopes bigger than 15 degrees, the distribution of boulders should be less than 30 centimetres in height; it will be near side of the moon and we are targeting mid-latitude locations."
A primary location and a back-up location will be selected soon.
Near side versus far side
The far side of the Moon has a rougher surface, with more craters and less maria – the large, dark, plains on the moon believed to be formed by ancient volcanic eruptions.
The near side experienced more volcanic eruptions, helping create a smoother surface.
Only the near side is visible from Earth because the Moon rotates on its axis at the same rate it orbits the Earth.
Some of the far side is visible, however, because the Moon’s elliptical orbit shows areas beyond its east and western horizons. The Moon seasons tend to show very little of the North and South poles.
Scientific research on Moon
Mr Al Mazrooqi said the mission's key scientific areas of interest are studying the properties of lunar regolith – lunar soil.
The mission will study the petrography and geology of the Moon.
Another focus area will be studying the lunar surface plasma conditions, photoelectron sheath and dust transportation.
The mission will also help determine what kind of future mission technologies are needed.
Its findings will contribute to global efforts to build a space station, called Lunar Gateway, in the Moon's orbit.
The UAE could benefit from that space station, as it works towards its long-term goal of building a city on Mars by 2117.
The US' 'Moon to Mars' programme has brought forward many international supporters.
Rover specifics
Rashid will be able to travel at a maximum speed of 10 centimetres per second.
The rover, equipped with four wheels, can climb over an obstacle at a maximum height of 10 centimetres and descend down on slope of 20 degrees.
It will have two high resolution optical imagers for photos – the CAM-1 and Cam-2.
The thermal imager, CAM-T, is the scientific camera, which can analyse different properties on the moon using the particle's thermal energy.
The Langmuir Probes on the rover will analyse the lunar surface charge and electric fields.
Emirati engineers will build the rover, but the lander – a landing spacecraft that holds the rover – is to be acquired through either an international partner or commercial provider.
"We are currently negotiating with different potential partners and we are at an advanced stage in (selecting) a lander, and we'll disclose the conclusions of these discussions in the coming months," said Mr Al Mazrooqi.
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Earth under attack: Cosmic impacts throughout history
- 4.5 billion years ago: Mars-sized object smashes into the newly-formed Earth, creating debris that coalesces to form the Moon
- 66 million years ago: 10km-wide asteroid crashes into the Gulf of Mexico, wiping out over 70 per cent of living species – including the dinosaurs.
- 50,000 years ago: 50m-wide iron meteor crashes in Arizona with the violence of 10 megatonne hydrogen bomb, creating the famous 1.2km-wide Barringer Crater
- 1490: Meteor storm over Shansi Province, north-east China when large stones “fell like rain”, reportedly leading to thousands of deaths.
- 1908: 100-metre meteor from the Taurid Complex explodes near the Tunguska river in Siberia with the force of 1,000 Hiroshima-type bombs, devastating 2,000 square kilometres of forest.
- 1998: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 breaks apart and crashes into Jupiter in series of impacts that would have annihilated life on Earth.
-2013: 10,000-tonne meteor burns up over the southern Urals region of Russia, releasing a pressure blast and flash that left over 1600 people injured.
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Four reasons global stock markets are falling right now
There are many factors worrying investors right now and triggering a rush out of stock markets. Here are four of the biggest:
1. Rising US interest rates
The US Federal Reserve has increased interest rates three times this year in a bid to prevent its buoyant economy from overheating. They now stand at between 2 and 2.25 per cent and markets are pencilling in three more rises next year.
Kim Catechis, manager of the Legg Mason Martin Currie Global Emerging Markets Fund, says US inflation is rising and the Fed will continue to raise rates in 2019. “With inflationary pressures growing, an increasing number of corporates are guiding profitability expectations downwards for 2018 and 2019, citing the negative impact of rising costs.”
At the same time as rates are rising, central bankers in the US and Europe have been ending quantitative easing, bringing the era of cheap money to an end.
2. Stronger dollar
High US rates have driven up the value of the dollar and bond yields, and this is putting pressure on emerging market countries that took advantage of low interest rates to run up trillions in dollar-denominated debt. They have also suffered capital outflows as international investors have switched to the US, driving markets lower. Omar Negyal, portfolio manager of the JP Morgan Global Emerging Markets Income Trust, says this looks like a buying opportunity. “Despite short-term volatility we remain positive about long-term prospects and profitability for emerging markets.”
3. Global trade war
Ritu Vohora, investment director at fund manager M&G, says markets fear that US President Donald Trump’s spat with China will escalate into a full-blown global trade war, with both sides suffering. “The US economy is robust enough to absorb higher input costs now, but this may not be the case as tariffs escalate. However, with a host of factors hitting investor sentiment, this is becoming a stock picker’s market.”
4. Eurozone uncertainty
Europe faces two challenges right now in the shape of Brexit and the new populist government in eurozone member Italy.
Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, which has offices in Dubai, says the stand-off between between Rome and Brussels threatens to become much more serious. "As with Brexit, neither side appears willing to step back from the edge, threatening more trouble down the line.”
The European economy may also be slowing, Mr Beauchamp warns. “A four-year low in eurozone manufacturing confidence highlights the fact that producers see a bumpy road ahead, with US-EU trade talks remaining a major question-mark for exporters.”
