A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket like this one will carry the Hakuto-R lander into space on Thursday, on the start of a five-month journey to the Moon. Inside the lander is the UAE's Rashid rover, which will roam the lunar surface. Photo: Nasa / EPA
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket like this one will carry the Hakuto-R lander into space on Thursday, on the start of a five-month journey to the Moon. Inside the lander is the UAE's Rashid rover, which will roam the lunar surface. Photo: Nasa / EPA
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket like this one will carry the Hakuto-R lander into space on Thursday, on the start of a five-month journey to the Moon. Inside the lander is the UAE's Rashid rover, which will roam the lunar surface. Photo: Nasa / EPA
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket like this one will carry the Hakuto-R lander into space on Thursday, on the start of a five-month journey to the Moon. Inside the lander is the UAE's Rashid rover, which will

UAE's Moon mission: Rashid rover launch postponed for second time


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The Arab world's first mission to the Moon has been postponed for a second day just hours before the launch on Thursday.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander, with the UAE's Rashid rover inside it, was due to blast off at 12.37pm UAE time.

"After further inspections of the launch vehicle and data review, we're standing down from tomorrow's launch of @ispace_inc's HAKUTO-R Mission 1; a new target launch date will be shared once confirmed," SpaceX wrote on Twitter.

Officials are hopeful of a new launch date in the coming days, The National's Sarwat Nasir in Cape Canaveral, Florida, says. An earlier launch on Wednesday was also postponed.

The Emirati-built rover will be stored inside Japanese lunar exploration company ispace’s Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander, which will transport the vessel to the Moon's surface.

The four-wheel vehicle will spend one lunar day on the Moon's surface to study its geology and dust. It is expected to capture thousands of images of its surroundings with high-resolution cameras.

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Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
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Updated: December 01, 2022, 1:45 AM`