UAE’s Rashid Rover 2 Ready for 2026 Mission to Moon’s Far Side

Dubai, UAE – The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) has announced the successful completion of the Emirates Lunar Mission’s Rashid Rover 2, marking a major milestone in the UAE’s space journey. Built and tested in the UAE, the rover has now been dispatched to the United States for the next phase of preparations with Firefly Aerospace ahead of its 2026 launch to the Moon’s far side.

Earlier this year, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum witnessed the signing of a strategic agreement between MBRSC and Firefly Aerospace, which will provide the lunar lander to deliver Rashid Rover 2 to its destination — an area of the Moon rarely explored by humanity.

Following its Thermal Vacuum (TVAC) testing hosted by the French space agency CNES in Toulouse, the rover underwent an extensive round of environmental and performance evaluations in the UAE. Engineers at MBRSC conducted solar panel functionality and deployment tests to ensure steady power generation under varying lunar light conditions. The team also verified the operation of the rover’s antenna and robotic arm in simulated lunar gravity.

To confirm its durability for the demanding space journey, Rashid Rover 2 was subjected to intense vibration testing at EARTH, a subsidiary of EDGE Group. The procedure replicated the extreme mechanical stresses expected during rocket launch, space travel, and lunar landing, ensuring that the rover can withstand every stage of its mission.

With all major tests successfully completed, Rashid Rover 2 has now cleared the final stage of its development phase. It will soon begin integration and flight readiness procedures in partnership with Firefly Aerospace, moving closer to its historic mission on the Moon’s far side — a first for the UAE and the Arab world.

The Emirates Lunar Mission, funded by the ICT Fund of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), continues to position the UAE as a rising force in global space exploration. Rashid Rover 2’s upcoming journey marks another step in the country’s vision to advance science, innovation, and exploration beyond Earth.