UAE's Rashid Rover 2 marks another major milestone

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) has announced another milestone in the Emirates Lunar Mission's journey to the far side of the Moon, with the integration of RTx, a ground-penetrating radar transmitter, onto the Rashid Rover 2.

RTx will enable the rover to carry out advanced subsurface studies on the Moon by transmitting signals that can probe up to 100 metres below the lunar surface.

These signals will help scientists better understand the Moon’s meteorite-bombardment history and the presence of iron-titanium minerals in the subsurface.

The Rashid Rover 2 is currently undergoing payload integration ahead of its expected launch aboard Blue Ghost Mission 2 alongside payloads from Australia, the European Space Agency and NASA.

Once on the Moon, the rover will study the Moon’s terrain, surface composition and thermal properties.

It will also examine how different materials interact with the lunar environment, study plasma activity near the surface, and collect data to support the design of future lunar missions.

"The new payload expands the mission’s scientific value, by enabling us to gain new insights into the Moon’s formation, history and mineral composition," explained Dr. Hamad AlMarzooqi, Project Manager, Emirates Lunar Mission, MBRSC.

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre announces the completion of the integration of RTx, a ground-penetrating radar transmitter, onto the Rashid Rover 2, marking another important step in the Emirates Lunar Mission’s preparations for its journey to the far side of the Moon. The… pic.twitter.com/1UUztltjTC

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The Emirates Lunar Mission is funded by the ICT Fund of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, supporting national research and development in space and ICT.