UAE partners with Japan's iSpace to send rover to the moon in 2022
Lunar exploration company ispace will transport a United Arab Emirates rover to the moon in 2022, the business said on Wednesday, as the UAE pushes for rapid expansion in the area exploration business to diversify its economy.
The UAE is using its space program to build up its scientific and technological capacities and reduce its reliance on oil.
The Gulf state's, and the Arab world's, first interplanetary probe entered Mars' orbit in February. It really is now sending data about the Martian atmosphere and climate.
The Rashid lunar rover will be designed entirely by Emiratis. The UAE had actually designed to send it into space by 2024.
Japanese company ispace, founded this year 2010, aims to supply commercial transportation to the moon with a wider mission to in the end incorporate the moon into the earth's economy.
The 2022 launch will be ispace's first mission of the kind and will use a Falcon 9 rocket from Elon Musk's SpaceX, to be launched from Florida.
Dubai's Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC) will build the Rashid lunar rover. It'll remain on the moon after data collection is completed, said Emirates Lunar Mission manager Hamad al-Marzooqi.
The SpaceX rocket will deliver an ispace lander to the moon's orbit. The lander will propel itself to the moon's surface and the UAE rover will emerge from the lander and drive off to explore, said ispace Founder and CEO Takeshi Hakamada.
The lander may also be carrying a solid-state battery created by Japanese company NGK Spark Plug to be tested in the lunar environment.
The lunar mission is the main Gulf state's broader vision for a Mars settlement by 2117.
Under the agreement, ispace said it would provide the Emirates Lunar Mission with wired communication and power through the cruise phase and wireless communication on the moon.
The UAE launched a National Space Program in 2017 to develop local expertise. Its population of 9.4 million, the majority of whom are foreign workers, lacks the scientific and professional foot of the major countries that have space programs.
Hazza al-Mansouri became the first Emirati in space in 2019 when he flew to the International Space Station. This week the UAE selected the first Arab woman to train as an astronaut.
Source: japantoday.com
