Rashid Rover 2 (Emirates Lunar Mission)

Rashid Rover 2 is the UAE's second lunar rover, built and run by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in Dubai under the Emirates Lunar Mission, which is funded by the ICT Fund of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA). It aims to make the UAE the second country to land on the far side of the Moon.

The first Rashid rover (about 10 kg, the lightest lunar rover built) launched in December 2022 on ispace's HAKUTO-R Mission 1 lander, and was lost in April 2023 when the lander crashed. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid announced Rashid Rover 2 in April 2023. In February 2024 MBRSC said it would change the landing site. On 22 May 2025 MBRSC signed with Firefly Aerospace to fly the rover on Blue Ghost Mission 2.

Science aims: the rover carries several cameras and probes to study the plasma environment, geology and thermal conditions, soil properties, surface temperatures and the photoelectron sheath (a thin layer of charged particles above the sunlit surface). It tests how different wheel materials stand up to lunar dust, to inform future spacesuits and habitats. It also carries RTx, a ground-penetrating radar transmitter whose signals, picked up by NASA's LuSEE-Night instrument on the lander, can probe up to about 100 m below the surface. The mission is planned to last about ten days. Mass and dimensions have not been published.

Key dates: CNES delivered two CASPEX cameras and a camera module in November 2024; MBRSC and CNES signed a memorandum of understanding on 15 September 2025; thermal vacuum tests at CNES, Toulouse, and vibration tests at EARTH in the UAE in 2025; development declared complete and rover shipped to the USA in November 2025; interface, wireless and drive-off tests with the Blue Ghost lander reported on 11 December 2025; RTx integration completed 29 September 2026; Mission Control Space Services selected for the rover's wireless communications, 7 October 2026.

Setbacks: launch was planned for 2026 (early 2026 in some reports, second half of 2026 in CNES's). Firefly now lists Blue Ghost Mission 2 as no earlier than 2027; no reason has been published.

Status (2026): the rover is in payload integration and mission-readiness activities with Firefly. Blue Ghost Mission 2 will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 with Firefly's Elytra Dark orbital vehicle, which will release ESA's Lunar Pathfinder satellite in lunar orbit and then the Blue Ghost lander, which lands on the far side near Nassau Crater about 44 days after launch.

Next: launch no earlier than 2027, then at least ten days of surface operations.

Milestone path

1. December 2022

   First Rashid rover launched

   Achieved

   The first Rashid rover, about 10 kg, launched on ispace's HAKUTO-R Mission 1 lander.

   Why it matters: The UAE's first attempt to put a rover on the Moon.

2. April 2023

   Rashid 1 lost; Rashid 2 announced

   Achieved

   The HAKUTO-R lander crashed, losing the first rover; Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid announced Rashid Rover 2.

   Why it matters: Showed the UAE's commitment to lunar work despite the loss.

3. November 2024

   French cameras delivered

   Achieved

   CNES delivered two CASPEX cameras and a camera module for the rover.

   Why it matters: Continues a working UAE–France space partnership.

4. 22 May 2025

   Firefly lander ride agreed

   Latest

   MBRSC signed with Firefly Aerospace to fly the rover on Blue Ghost Mission 2 to the far side of the Moon.

   Why it matters: Gives the rover a ride with a lander maker that has already landed on the Moon.

Milestone path

1. 15 September 2025

   MBRSC–CNES memorandum signed

   Achieved

   MBRSC and CNES signed a memorandum of understanding covering cameras, image processing and mission support from Toulouse.

   Why it matters: Formalises European technical support for the mission.

2. November 2025

   Rover complete and shipped to USA

   Achieved

   MBRSC declared development complete and shipped the rover to the USA for integration with the lander.

   Why it matters: Moves the mission from build to integration.

3. 11 December 2025

   Lander interface and drive-off tests

   Achieved

   Interface, wireless and drive-off tests with the Blue Ghost lander were reported complete.

   Why it matters: Checks that the rover can talk to the lander and roll off it safely.

4. 2025

   Thermal and vibration testing

   Latest

   The rover passed thermal vacuum tests at CNES, Toulouse, and vibration tests simulating launch and landing at the EARTH test facility in the UAE.

   Why it matters: In-country environmental testing builds UAE space test capability for other programmes.

Milestone path

1. 29 September 2026

   Radar transmitter integrated

   Achieved

   Integration of RTx, a ground-penetrating radar transmitter whose signals NASA's LuSEE-Night instrument will receive, was completed; it can probe up to about 100 m below the surface.

   Why it matters: Adds US partners (NASA, Brookhaven, Heliospace, SwRI) and deeper science value.

2. 7 October 2026

   Canadian wireless link selected

   Latest

   Mission Control Space Services of Ottawa was selected for the rover's wireless communications, with Canadian Space Agency support.

   Why it matters: Shows a small mission drawing suppliers from several countries.

3. No earlier than 2027 (earlier planned for 2026)

   Launch on Falcon 9

   Planned

   Blue Ghost Mission 2 is to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 with Firefly's Elytra Dark orbital vehicle, which also releases ESA's Lunar Pathfinder satellite. Firefly lists the mission as no earlier than 2027; no reason for the slip has been given.

   What to watch: a firm launch date from Firefly.

4. About 44 days after launch

   Far-side landing and surface work

   Planned

   The lander is to touch down on the far side near Nassau Crater, then the rover operates for about ten days.

   What to watch: landing success; the UAE would be the second country to land on the far side.