Explained: What Does UAE's Rashid Rover Hope To Achieve On The Moon?

The Arab world's first lunar rover made history after successfully taking off on Sunday, December 11. Named Rashid after the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, former Ruler of Dubai, the launch took place on schedule at 11.38 am local time.

Now, Rashid will undertake a 385,000 kilometre long journey that has the potential to make United Arab Emirates (UAE) the fourth country to land on the Moon.

Japan-based ispace Inc will land the Emirati rover on the Moon through its HAKUTO-R lander and SpaceX performed additional pre-flight checks of the vehicle before it took off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, US.

Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC)

Who built the rover?

The four-wheel rover weighs only 10 kilograms and was built by engineers from the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC). A team of 11 engineers helped develop the mission, on which they'd been working since 2017.

The rover will land on the Moon's near side - the one facing the Earth.

Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC)

What is its travel trajectory?

The rover hitched a ride on the HAKUTO-R Mission 1 lander built by Japanese company ispace. It also marked ispace's first lunar mission.

The lander is equipped with a propulsion and navigation system, guiding it to land on the Moon.

Also read: NASA's Artemis I Mission Returns To Earth, Paving Way For Crewed Moon Missions

The Rashid rover was integrated into the lander in November. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is carrying the rover to space. In three months from now, the rover will reach Mars.

Scientists hope to land the rover in the Atlas crater in the Mare Frigoris site situated in the far-north of the Moon's near side. After landing, Rashid will then touch base via a ramp.

Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC)

What are Rashid's goals?

The Rashid rover will assess the properties of lunar soil, along with analysis of "the petrography and geology of the Moon, dust movement," The National News reported.

Regolith (or lunar dust) remains a key challenge for astronauts hoping to go to the Moon. It sticks to spacesuits and causes erosion. Rashid will study regolith through the "material adhesive experiment" wherein various samples attached to the rover's wheels will test how regolith sticks.

UAE's bigger plans for space

The mission is expected to last one lunar day, or 14 days on Earth. Scientists also hope that the rover is able to make it through the lunar night (that also lasts for 14 Earth days) when temperatures can drop to -183 degree Celsius.

Unsplash

Also read: NASA's Orion Spacecraft Sends Back Historic Image Of Earth And Moon Together

There's no stopping the UAE! The country has meted out a plan for a long-term Moon exploration programme including multiple missions including a follow up to Rashid that will be launched with the help of China on its Chang'e-7 lunar mission that is expected to take off in 2026.

The MBRSC hopes to use the mission as a precursor to launch similar projects that will culminate in the settlement of a colony on Mars by the year 2117.

What do you think about UAE's ambitious space plans? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.

References

Nasir, S. (2022, December 9). Rashid rover: Everything you need to know about UAE¡¯s Moon mission. The National. https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/uae-in-space/2022/12/09/rashid-rover-everything-you-need-to-know-about-uaes-moon-mission/

Abdulla, N. N. M. (2022, December 11). UAE-built Rashid Rover successfully blasts off to space; as it happened. Khaleej Times. https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/live-uae-moon-mission-set-for-historic-launch-today?_refresh=true

Macnaughton, O., & Leigh-Hewitson, N. (2022, December 11). The UAE has launched the first Arab-built moon rover. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/11/middleeast/rashid-rover-launch-moon-ispace-uae-spc-scn/index.html