The UAE launches its first spacecraft to the moon

Weather of Arabia - The UAE is preparing to launch its first spacecraft to the moon next November, to join a series of space-related scientific achievements.

The director of the Emirates Moon Exploration Project, Hamad Al-Marzouqi, told The National newspaper that the "Rashid" rover will launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida between November 9-15.

The spacecraft will also be launched aboard a "Falcon 9" rocket, owned by SpaceX, and docked on the moon by a Japanese lander in March.

The newspaper quoted Al-Marzouki as saying: "We have finished testing the rover, and are happy with the results. The vehicle has been integrated with the probe and is ready for launch."

The moon mission is part of the UAE's broader strategy to become a major player in space exploration.

If the project succeeds, the UAE will join Japan with the United States, Russia and China, the only countries to have put a spacecraft on the moon.

An Emirati satellite is already orbiting Mars to study the atmosphere of the red planet.

The UAE entered into a partnership with the Japanese company, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, to launch this satellite, which was launched into Mars orbit in February 2021.

The Rashid rover is expected to study the lunar surface and travel there to learn how different surfaces interact with lunar particles.

The vehicle, which weighs ten kilograms, will carry two high-resolution cameras, a microscope camera, a thermal imaging camera, a probe, and other equipment.

The UAE plans to develop the most advanced commercial satellite in the Middle East to produce high-resolution satellite images.