Dubai: H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and President of MBRSC, witnessed a significant moment in the UAE’s space exploration endeavors as the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) signed a strategic agreement with Firefly Aerospace. This collaboration will see Firefly Aerospace providing the lunar lander for deploying the Rashid 2 Rover as part of the Emirates Lunar Mission, targeting the far side of the moon.
According to Emirates News Agency, the signing ceremony took place at Emirates Towers. The agreement outlines plans for the Rashid 2 Rover’s deployment on Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander, which will be stacked on the Elytra Dark orbital vehicle. The rover is scheduled to join Blue Ghost Mission 2 in 2026, marking Firefly Aerospace’s second lunar mission. The mission will also include payloads from Australia, the European Space Agency (ESA), and NASA.
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
emphasized the UAE’s commitment to advancing lunar exploration, stating that the mission places the nation among a select group of countries pushing the boundaries of space research. He highlighted the importance of generating knowledge that contributes to humanity’s understanding of the universe and the UAE’s strategy of building global collaborations to achieve scientific and technological progress.
Talal Humaid Belhoul Al Falasi, Vice President of MBRSC, expressed gratitude for the support from H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the UAE’s leadership. He noted that the Emirates Lunar Mission and the Rashid 2 Rover demonstrate the UAE’s ability to transform visionary goals into reality and reinforce its standing as a key player in global space exploration.
Hamad Obaid AlMansoori, Chairman of MBRSC, pointed out that the strategic agreement aligns with the UAE’s commitment to long-term scientific advancement and impactful global partnerships. The Emirates Lunar Mission reflects the UAE
‘s vision to contribute to the understanding of the Moon and support future lunar infrastructure and deep space initiatives.
Jason Kim, CEO of Firefly Aerospace, expressed enthusiasm for collaborating with the UAE on this groundbreaking mission. He highlighted the versatility of Firefly’s Blue Ghost and Elytra spacecraft, which provide unique access to lunar orbit and the surface, further supporting the international space community.
Salem Humaid AlMarri, Director General of MBRSC, remarked on the significance of the agreement with Firefly Aerospace in advancing the UAE’s role in lunar exploration. He detailed the mission’s objectives to deliver valuable scientific data on the lunar surface, plasma environment, and dust behavior, which will contribute to global scientific knowledge and support future lunar infrastructure development.
The MBRSC has set ambitious scientific goals for the Rashid 2 Rover, focusing on lunar surface mobility on the far side of the moon, where terrain and communication challenges
are greater. The rover will conduct experiments to evaluate material durability against lunar dust, informing future technology designs. Equipped with cameras and scientific probes, it will study the moon’s plasma environment, geology, and thermal conditions, providing insights for future in-situ resource utilization and deep space exploration.
The Emirates Lunar Mission is a crucial component of the UAE’s National Space Programme, which prioritizes scientific advancement, future generation empowerment, and international cooperation.