This is two years earlier than originally planned
TASS, April 14. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will launch its own lunar exploration program in 2022, rather than in 2024, as originally planned. This was reported on Wednesday by the Emirati newspaper The National.
The UAE-created lunar research module was supposed to be delivered to the lunar surface in 2024 to explore areas not covered by previous scientific missions. Now it has been decided that it will be delivered using the lander of the Japanese company Ispace in 2022.
The Rashid lunar rover will be equipped with solar panels, communication systems, three-dimensional video cameras and other modern devices.
Thus, the UAE can become the fourth country in the world and the first of the Arab states that develop a lunar program. The resulting data and images from the surface of the Earth's natural satellite will be transmitted to research centers around the world.
The lunar exploration program will be part of the UAE's space strategy. In July 2020, the country sent the interplanetary station "Al-Amal" to Mars, on February 9, it entered the orbit of the Red Planet. The purpose of this mission is to study the atmosphere and climatic conditions of Mars, as well as the change of times of the Martian year, which lasts almost twice as long as the Earth.
In 2017, the UAE announced a project to build a mini-city on Mars - the first human settlement. This project is planned to be completed by 2117.
