UAE to the Moon again: Sheikh Hamdan announces Rashid Rover 2 launch by US company in 2026

Dubai: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and President of Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai, on Thursday announced the launch of Rashid Rover 2, the UAE's second mission to the Moon’s surface, with the help of an American company in 2026.

"I witnessed the signing of a strategic agreement between MBRSC and US-based Firefly Aerospace to provide the payload delivery services for the Rashid 2 Rover, as part of the Emirates Lunar Mission scheduled for 2026. The mission is set to make the UAE only the second country in history to attempt a landing on the moon's far side, placing the nation at the forefront of space exploration," Sheikh Hamdan posted on X.

With the steadfast support of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the visionary directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan said, the UAE continues to strengthen its role as a major global player in advancing space exploration.

"Driven by the talent of our youth, the UAE’s journey in space reflects the same ambition and excellence that define our progress on Earth," he added.

Under the strategic agreement, the Rashid 2 Rover will be deployed to the far side of the Moon on Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander stacked on the Elytra Dark orbital vehicle.

The Rashid 2 Rover will join Blue Ghost Mission 2, in 2026, which will be Firefly Aerospace’s second lunar mission, alongside payloads from Australia, the European Space Agency (ESA), and NASA.

Rashid Rover 2 was announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in April 2023 after Rashid Rover 1, the first Arab mission to the lunar surface, crash-landed on the lunar surface after the Japanese landing vehicle carrying it failed at a soft landing.

As reported by Gulf News in February last year, MBRSC revealed that it will alter the landing site of its second mission to the Moon’s surface. The landing site of Rashid Rover 1, the Atlas crater — located at 47.5°N, 44.4°E, on the southeastern outer edge of Mare Frigoris (Sea of Cold) in the far lunar north — had been chosen to maintain its flexibility during operations.

On Thursday, Sheikh Hamdan said: "Our objective is not only to reach new destinations in space, but to generate meaningful knowledge that contributes to humanity’s understanding of the universe. The agreement with Firefly Aerospace reflects our strategy of forging strategic global collaborations that advance our long-term scientific and space technology ambitions.”

“We are committed to shaping a sustainable space industry ecosystem that fosters innovation, facilitates international knowledge exchange, and supports the continued growth of the UAE’s scientific and technological leadership. Through missions like these, the UAE is set to further strengthen its position in the global space sector as a major player in expanding the horizons of discovery,” he added.

MBRSC has outlined a set of ambitious scientific goals for the Rashid 2 Rover, which will demonstrate lunar surface mobility on the far side of the moon — where terrain and communication pose greater challenges than the near side. As part of the mission, the rover will undergo the material adhesion determination experiment, using various materials on its wheels to evaluate their durability against lunar dust. The findings can inform the design of future technologies such as spacesuits, habitats, and other critical infrastructure.

Equipped with multiple cameras and scientific probes, the Rashid 2 Rover will study the moon’s plasma environment, geology, and thermal conditions. It will also investigate the properties of lunar soil, surface structure temperatures, and the lunar photoelectron sheath, which will provide valuable insights to support future in-situ resource utilisation and advance further exploration of deep space. The rover will further carry a radio transmitter to communicate with other payloads during the mission.

Thanking the leaders, Talal Humaid Belhoul Al Falasi, Vice President, MBRSC, said: "As the UAE prepares to go to the moon and explore its far side through the Emirates Lunar Mission’s Rashid 2 Rover, we continue to demonstrate our capacity to transform vision into reality. It further strengthens the UAE’s standing as a committed partner in global space exploration and underscores our contribution to shaping the future of scientific discovery beyond Earth.”

Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Chairman, MBRSC, said: “The signing of this strategic agreement reflects our nation’s commitment to investing in long-term scientific advancement, building advanced national capabilities, and forging impactful global partnerships. The Emirates Lunar Mission embodies this forward-looking vision, which is driven by a desire to contribute to humanity’s collective understanding of the Moon, and to support the development of future lunar infrastructure and deep space initiatives. As we pursue ever more ambitious endeavours with the support of our leadership, we remain focused on positioning the UAE as a key contributor to the global scientific community and a source of innovation for future generations.”

Jason Kim, CEO of Firefly Aerospace, said: “On the heels of Firefly’s flawless moon landing and operations, our team is looking forward to collaborating with the UAE and further expanding our representation of Artemis Accords nations on this groundbreaking mission to the far side of the Moon. We’re honoured to support the international space community with our versatile Blue Ghost and Elytra spacecraft that can stack together to provide unique access to both lunar orbit and the lunar surface.”

Salem Humaid AlMarri, Director General, MBRSC, said: “The strategic agreement signed with Firefly Aerospace marks a significant advancement in the UAE’s growing role in shaping the future of lunar exploration. Through the Emirates Lunar Mission’s Rashid 2 Rover, the UAE will become one of the few nations to explore the far side of the Moon. The mission will deliver valuable scientific data on the lunar surface, plasma environment, and dust behaviour—contributing to global knowledge and supporting future lunar infrastructure development. As we prepare for this historic milestone, we remain dedicated to expanding the UAE’s contributions to humanity’s long-term presence in space.”

The Emirates Lunar Mission forms a pivotal part of the of the broader space exploration strategy under the UAE’s National Space Programme, that prioritises the advancement of scientific knowledge, the empowerment of future generations, and the strengthening of international cooperation.