A graphic image of the planned landing site of the Rashid Rover.

Yamama Badwan, Staff Reporter

‘Lake of Dreams,’ also known as Lacus Somniorum, is the main site chosen by the Emirates Lunar Mission’s team for the landing of the ‘Rashid Rover’ on the moon’s surface.

The Rashid Rover will be launched between August and November 2022, covering a distance of 385,000 km, in a mission in which the UAE is the first in the Arab world and the fourth worldwide in lunar exploration.

Al Khaleej newspaper, sister publication of Gulf Today, interviewed the project team, which confirmed that work is progressing in full swing in compliance with the pre-set schedule in the design and development of the engineering and prototype models, which began in the testing stages in the UAE and other countries.

The team revealed that the explorer, which will roam all over the surface of the moon, traveling between new sites that have not been studied before, over an extendable 14 Earth days, will capture thousands of images and data, using devices and technologies for the first time.

It will then send these images and data to the ground station of Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, they said.

The project is a continuation of the UAE’s strategy in exploring outer space.

On Sept.29, 2020, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched the Emirates Lunar Mission in a precedent that supports the UAE’s efforts to advance its space industries.