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UAE’s Rashid Rover Lunar Landing Site Revealed

  • Publish date: Thursday، 19 August 2021
UAE’s Rashid Rover Lunar Landing Site Revealed

The Emirates Lunar Mission team have completed the assembly and integration of the first 'Rashid' rover prototype according to a social media report from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC)

According to The National, Rashid, will land on the Lacus Somniorum in the north-eastern part of the Moon's near side. Three other spots have been selected as alternative sites as a precautionary measure.

This will also be a first in the Arab world and the UAE will be history as the fourth country to land on the moon after the U.S., Soviet Union, and China and the launch date is set for 2022.

It has completed functional testing in the MBRSC lab and will soon face more robust testing in simulated environments.

‘Rashid’ will have the distinction of the being the smallest and lightest rover to have landed on the moon at a height of 70cm (2.3ft) and weighing approximately 10kg (22 pound) with its payload. Rashid’s length is 50cm while width is 50cm.

The Emirates Lunar Mission is part of the 2021-2031 strategy launched by MBRSC, which includes developing and launching the first Emirati lunar rover, Rashid.