UAE Moon mission: You won’t guess how far the Rashid Rover has travelled

UAE Moon mission: You won’t guess how far the Rashid Rover has travelled

Named after the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, former Ruler of Dubai, the rover lifted off on December 11 from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida

Published: Tue 3 Jan 2023, 6:00 AM

The UAE-built Rashid Rover is darting towards Moon, carrying with it the space dreams of millions of Emiratis and expatriates. Named after the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, former Ruler of Dubai, the rover had lifted off on December 11 from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.

Japan-based ispace inc (ispace) — which will land the Emirati rover on Moon — said its HAKUTO-R Mission 1 lunar lander has travelled approximately 1.24 million-km from Earth as on January 2, 2023. It is scheduled to be at its farthest point of approximately 1.4 million-km from Earth by January 20.

The company also announced that the lander has successfully carried out its second orbital control manoeuvre. The first was completed on December 15, 2022. Once the lander reaches its farthest point from Earth, a third orbital correction manoeuvre may be performed, depending on its navigational status. Mission 1 is set for landing after a four-month cruise phase.

The spacecraft is taking a low-energy route to Moon rather than