In a bold leap for Arab space exploration, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced the Rashid Rover 2 lunar mission, the UAE’s second attempt to land on the Moon.
Set for 2026, the new mission will send Rashid 2 to the far side of the Moon, making the UAE only the second country in history to attempt such a landing.
On Thursday, Sheikh Hamdan witnessed the signing of a strategic agreement between the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) and Firefly Aerospace, a U.S.-based space transport company.
He shared on X, “This agreement will place the UAE at the forefront of global lunar exploration.”
The Rashid Rover 2 lunar mission will ride aboard Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander, carried by the Elytra Dark orbital vehicle.
This will be part of Firefly’s Blue Ghost Mission 2, which includes payloads from NASA, ESA, and Australia.
The project follows the UAE’s earlier Rashid Rover 1 mission, which ended in failure after a Japanese landing vehicle crash-landed on the Moon.
In April 2023, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum confirmed plans to pursue the second mission, undeterred by the earlier setback.
With visionary support from President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the UAE continues to aim higher.
“The UAE’s space journey is powered by youth, excellence, and ambition,” Sheikh Hamdan added.
The Rashid Rover 2 lunar mission will not only attempt a landing but also collect data from previously unexplored lunar regions.
This new landing site differs from the original Atlas crater, chosen for flexibility during earlier operations.
As the UAE prepares for 2026, the Rashid Rover 2 lunar mission affirms the country’s commitment to pioneering scientific discovery beyond Earth.
