Dubai ruler launches first Arab mission to explore moon

As a continuation of the UAE’s strategy in exploring outer space, and strengthening its scientific leadership in the field of space science and research in the region, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister launched and Ruler of Dubai, the UAE project to explore the moon, the first Arab mission to do so. 

A scientific exploration of the moon supports the state’s efforts to promote the space industries sector in the region, develop it and enable it to contribute to making the future with innovative Emirati minds and arms.

The Emirates Moon Exploration Project is part of the new strategy launched by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center and includes the development and launch of the first Emirati lunar explorer under the name “Rashid”, In the name of the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, builder of modern Dubai. 

The explorer will be designed and built with 100% Emirati efforts, making the UAE the fourth country in the world to participate in moon exploration.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum affirmed that “through the exploration of the moon, we write an inspiring new chapter in our record of achievements as a country whose ambitions are the roof of space and beyond.”

The goals of the mission will include studying new sites for the first time on the surface of the moon, in addition to analysing ‘moon dust.’ 

The Emirati explorer will also conduct tests to study various aspects of the lunar surface, including the lunar soil, thermal properties of surface structures, the lunar photoelectric envelope, measurements of plasma, optoelectronics and the dust particles located above the luminous part of the lunar surface.

Rare data and images will also be captured and sent to the ground control station at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center.

This strategy is a new addition to the ongoing space initiatives of the emirates, including the ”Hope Probe”, the UAE Mars exploration project, which seeks to provide an unprecedented repertoire of scientific data that will be accessible to more than 200 academic and scientific research institutions around the world. 

The explorer will land on an area never-before tested by any of the previous lunar missions, so the data collected will be fresh, new and undoubtedly of great value.