UAE Rashid Rover’s Moon launch shifted to Dec.1
- 30 Nov 2022
Gulf Today, Staff Reporter
An Emirati-built moon rover attached to a Japanese lander has been integrated onto a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket for launch on Thursday Dec.1, according to Nasa.
SpaceX has confirmed the new launch date.
The Dubai Media Office said on Twitter, “A new launch date is set for the Emirates Lunar Mission tomorrow 1 December at 12:37 pm (UAE time).”
A Falcon 9 rocket was scheduled to blast off at 3:39 am (0839 GMT) from Cape Canaveral, Florida on Wednesday, with a backup date on Thursday.
The live coverage of the event will start at 10am UAE time. The launch of the 10-kilogram Rashid Rover will mark the 55th launch for SpaceX in 2022.
The rover is expected to land on the Moon at the end of April.
The announcement follows the confirmation of Rashid Rover's landing site, which will be the Atlas crater, located at 47.5°N, 44.4°E, on the southeastern outer edge of Mare Frigoris (Sea of Cold), chosen to maintain flexibility during operations. Mare Frigoris lies in the far lunar north.
The primary landing site was chosen along with multiple contingencies, which may be used depending on variables that occur during transit.
The site meets the technical specifications of the lander technology demonstration mission and the scientific exploration objectives for the ELM mission.
The Rashid Rover, once landed, will explore the characteristics of lunar soil, the petrography and geology of the Moon, dust movement, surface plasma conditions, and the Moon's photoelectron sheath.
The novel discovery within the unexplored lunar site is one of the many reasons why the Emirates Lunar Mission is one of the most anticipated moon missions.