The Japanese spacecraft carrying the UAE’s ambitious lunar mission will attempt the feat on 25 April
Get ready to be a part of the landing where the UAE makes history!
On 25 April, a Japanese spacecraft carrying the UAE’s Rashid rover is scheduled to attempt a soft landing on the surface of the Moon, marking the first commercial cargo mission to the Moon if successful.
The spacecraft, named Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander, has been gradually approaching the Moon since entering lunar orbit on 21 March. Ispace, the company behind the mission, has also set backup dates of 26 April, 1 and 3 May.
Notably, if the landing is successful, it will make the UAE the first Arab country to have a rover on another celestial body, and Ispace will become the first private company to deliver cargo to the Moon’s surface.
However, landing on the Moon is a challenging task that only the US, the former Soviet Union, and China have managed to achieve so far, with India and Israel’s attempts resulting in crashes.
Soft landings on the Moon require complex manoeuvres since there is no atmosphere to slow down the lander, and the Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander will use preset commands to adjust its attitude and velocity for a safe touchdown.
The success of commercial lunar missions like this could potentially shift the focus of government-run space agencies to lunar science while private companies handle the challenging aspects of landing on the Moon. Additionally, this could open up more opportunities for emerging space nations like the UAE and Saudi Arabia to explore the Moon.
Date
25 April
Location
The Moon
Follow Yalla – Abu Dhabi Life for all the latest events across the capital and beyond