UAE to launch new Moon mission after rover likely lost in lunar lander crash

UAE to launch new Moon mission after rover likely lost in lunar lander crash

Dubai: The UAE is to launch a new Moon mission after a spacecraft carrying its Rashid exploratory rover was thought to have crashed during an attempted lunar landing.

Japanese company iSpace, which had been hoping to complete the first landing on the Moon’s surface by a private firm, said there was a high probability the Hakuto-R lander had been lost.

Communication with the craft was broken just moments before it was due to touch down on Tuesday.

However, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum has revealed that a Rashid 2 lunar mission would now be initiated by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center.

The announcement was made during a visit by Sheikh Mohammed to the center where he met with the Emirati team behind the space program.

Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed pointed out that it was of paramount importance that the UAE pressed ahead with its ambitions to explore new frontiers in space. Despite the unsuccessful attempt to land the Rashid rover on the Moon, he noted that the nation had “kept our aspirations high.”

He told state news agency WAM: “Emiratis have proved their ability to develop advanced space projects and rapidly create a vibrant national space sector.

“The UAE