UAE’s Rashid Rover to reach Moon today: Where to watch, timing, landing site; all you need to know

UAE’s Rashid Rover to reach Moon today: Where to watch, timing, landing site; all you need to know

The world’s first Arab-built lunar rover will make the Emirates the fourth country after Soviet Union, USA and China to land on the Moon if successful

Published: Tue 25 Apr 2023, 1:28 PM

The UAE is all set to make history as its attempts to put the Emirati lunar Rover, named Rashid to the Moon.

If all goes to plan, ispace’s Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander will start its descent towards the lunar surface at around 7.40pm UAE time (landing time 8.40pm).

On December 11, 2022, the UAE's Rashid Rover, the world’s first Arab-built lunar rover, lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The Rashid Rover soared into space atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, housed inside a lunar lander designed by Japanese company ispace.

It marked the start of an epic 385,000km odyssey that will make the UAE the fourth country after Soviet Union, USA and China to land on the Moon if successful.

Here's what you must know ahead of tonight's rendezvous:

How can I watch the event live?

Space enthusiasts can tune into the landing event livestream coverage into the all the digital platforms of Khaleej Times at 8pm tonight.

What is Rashid Rover’s landing site and why?

Rashid Rover's landing site, which will be Atlas