UAE leaders hail historic lunar mission

The UAE's leaders have hailed the progress of the historic Emirates Lunar Mission during a meeting with the engineers working on the project.

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said the project will further expand the UAE’s contribution to the space sector and enable our people to harness their knowledge and skills to serve the country and humanity.

"I was pleased to meet with members of the Emirates Lunar Mission team," he added.

I was pleased to meet with members of the Emirates Lunar Mission team. This historic project is further expanding the UAE’s contribution to the space sector and enabling our people to harness their knowledge and skills to serve their country and humanity. pic.twitter.com/hE9YI0tGYm

— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) June 15, 2022

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, also met with the mission's team members and confirmed that the Rashid Rover will land on the moon "in the next few months".

He said the mission will take the aspirations of our people to new heights and establish a new scientific stage in the history of our country.

. @HHShkMohd meets members of the Emirates Lunar Mission team, as Rashid Rover is set to land on the moon surface in the next few months. #Dubai #UAE pic.twitter.com/zae7qBOsoq

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) June 15, 2022

The first Arab mission to the Moon's surface is scheduled to liftoff on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Florida's Kennedy Space Centre during the fourth quarter of this year.

The rover will study the lunar soil in an unexplored area during its mission.