Countdown To The Moon: UAE’s Rashid Rover To Land After Eid Al Fitr Break

The UAE is gearing up for an exciting Eid Al Fitr gift as its rover prepares for a historic landing on the Moon just after the four-day holiday that marks the end of Ramadan.

As of April 12, 2023, the Mission 1 lander is currently in orbit around the Moon, following an elliptical path at an altitude ranging from 100km to 2,300km. The anticipated landing time for the UAE’s Rashid Rover, carried by the HAKUTO-R Mission 1 Lunar Lander, has been revealed by Japan-based ispace as 4.40pm (UTC) or approximately 8.40pm local UAE time. The soft landing sequence will begin approximately an hour before the actual landing.

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The HAKUTO-R Mission 1 Lunar Lander, carrying the Rashid Rover, is scheduled to touch down on Tuesday, April 25, making it the earliest planned landing date for this momentous event. The Rashid Rover’s landing date may vary depending on the selected landing site among the three alternatives. Subject to operational status, the potential landing dates include April 26, May 1, and May 3.

The update so far is that the lander has already entered the lunar orbit last month re-confirmed by the images of the Moon sent by the camera onboard.

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Paying tribute to the esteemed legacy of the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, former Ruler of Dubai, the Rashid Rover stands as a proud testament to the visionary spirit of the UAE. As the first lunar spacecraft crafted by an Arab country, this remarkable achievement is a testament to the unwavering dedication and pioneering efforts of the UAE in advancing space exploration.