Announced the launch of a new mission to explore the moon «Rashid 2»

Mohammed bin Rashid: We have succeeded in raising the ceiling of our ambitions to reach the moon and create a team capable of managing advanced space projects

  • Mohammed bin Rashid accompanied by Hamdan bin Mohammed during his visit to the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. From the source

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His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced the new mission of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre for Lunar Exploration under the name "Rashid 2".

This came during His Highness' visit to the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, accompanied by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and his meeting with the Centre's team, stressing the importance of determination and determination, and the belief that the upcoming successes are many, and that the UAE has made great strides in the space industry in record time.

His Highness said: "The first attempt to reach the moon has been completed. We will continue to make new attempts, God willing, until we arrive."

His Highness also said: "The mission of the rover carrying the explorer Rashid did not succeed in landing on the moon. But we succeeded in raising the ceiling of our ambitions to reach the moon. We succeeded in creating a team of our young men and women capable of managing advanced space projects. We succeeded in building a space sector from scratch in 10 years."

His Highness stressed: "We are a country founded on ambition. We are a country that has not stopped since December 2, 1971. And it won't stop. And you won't pay attention. And she won't set small goals for herself. The next is more beautiful, greater and bolder, God willing."

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said in tweets: "The mission of the rover carrying the explorer Rashid did not succeed in landing on the moon. But we succeeded in raising the ceiling of our ambitions to reach the moon. We succeeded in creating a team of our young men and women capable of managing advanced space projects. And we succeeded in building a space sector from scratch in 10 years. Today the explorer (Rashid 1) on the moon holds the UAE flag. to be the biggest proof of our courage. And our thinking is outside the box. And our attempt to reach the moon. From today work will start on (Rashid 2). New Explorer. for a new attempt to reach the moon."

His Highness added: "We are a country founded on ambition. We are a country that has not stopped since December 2, 1971. And it won't stop. And you won't pay attention. And she won't set small goals for herself. The next is more beautiful, greater and bolder, God willing."

For his part, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, stressed that the nature of the space sector bears the existence of high risk rates, which is a scientific and systematic method of exploration and experimentation, and the UAE continues in this approach to reach a pioneering and advanced space sector that competes with global countries. The nature of the space sector is the existence of a high risk ratio. We accept that. We have had the honor of trying to reach a new point in the history of the UAE. We have the honor of raising our ambitions to be the ceiling of space, its planets and stars."

His Highness added: "We directed Mohammed bin Rashid to immediately start developing Rashid 2. New vehicle. For a new attempt. To reach the moon, God willing."

The visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre to meet with the teams of the national project came after iSpace announced, the day before yesterday, April 25, 2023, at 10 pm, the loss of contact with the lander "Hakuto R", the first private commercial lander to land on the moon at all, and it was carrying the Emirati explorer Rashid, as it was unable to confirm the landing of the vehicle, while the Center confirmed Mohammed bin Rashid Space said that the iSpace team continues to study the situation and will provide updates when it ends.

His Highness also praised the efforts of the work team, thanking their endeavors and dedication to work, stressing that working in the space sector requires many attempts, and inherently carries the possibility of success and non-success, stressing that unsuccessful attempts are the ladder that leads us to successes and excellence.

Their Highnesses visited the Centre by Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Vice Chairman of MBRSC Talal Belhoul Al Falasi, Chairman of MBRSC Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director General of MBRSC Salem Humaid Al Marri, and a number of senior MBRSC officials.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, through the Emirates Lunar Exploration Project, has succeeded in achieving a number of important achievements, most notably the design of one of the most advanced explorers in the world, the first Arab and Emirati explorer to reach lunar orbit aboard iSpace's Hakoto-R vehicle, and the approach to landing on the moon, which are significant achievements for the UAE's first lunar exploration mission, and highlight the country's commitment to advancing space exploration.

Rashid was launched to the lunar surface aboard the Hakuto-R rover from Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Base, Florida, United States, on December 11, 2022, at 11:38 am UAE time, making the UAE the first Arab mission to explore the moon.

Rashid explorer, one of the most advanced and advanced vehicles to reach the lunar surface, has a unique design, weighing about 10 kg, about 80 cm high, about 53.5 cm long, and about 53.85 cm wide.

Vice President:

"The explorer (Rashid 1) on the moon carries the UAE flag. It is the greatest proof of our courage."

"The first attempt to reach the moon has been accomplished. We continue to make new attempts until we arrive."

"We are a country founded on ambition. It has not stopped since December 2, 1971. And it won't stop. It won't set small goals for itself."

Hamdan bin Mohammed:

"The nature of the space sector is the existence of high risk ratios, which is a scientific and systematic method of exploration and experimentation."

"The UAE continues in this approach to reach a pioneering and advanced space sector that competes with global countries."

International and local partnerships

The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) has signed 10 international partnerships and four local partnerships as part of the Emirates Lunar Exploration Project's scientific programme. The Centre has established such partnerships with entities, institutions and space agencies. This collaboration brings together 40 scientists, researchers and engineers who have contributed to the development of Rashid Explorer's main instruments, including a microcharge sensor, a microscopic camera, a primary and secondary camera, as well as data collection and analysis, and work on instruments.