UAE confirms launch partner for far side moon mission

The UAE’s mission to explore the far side of the Moon has taken a major step forward.

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and the UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, has witnessed the signing of a key agreement between the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) and US-based Firefly Aerospace.

Under the deal, Firefly will provide the lunar lander for the Emirates Lunar Mission, which will carry the UAE’s Rashid 2 Rover to the far side of the Moon in 2026.

The rover will be part of Firefly’s Blue Ghost Mission 2, alongside payloads from NASA, the European Space Agency and Australia.

Sheikh Hamdan said the mission reinforces the UAE’s commitment to advancing lunar science and contributing valuable knowledge to global space research.

Rashid 2 will study the Moon’s terrain, plasma environment and thermal conditions, and will test material resilience against lunar dust - data crucial for future exploration technologies.

The mission supports the UAE’s broader National Space Programme, aimed at driving innovation, empowering youth, and strengthening international partnerships in the space sector.

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… pic.twitter.com/n9cNrykQoe

— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) May 22, 2025