The UAE’s first mission to the moon has been delayed once again as SpaceX Falcon 9 blast-off has been postponed for a fourth time.
The UAE’s Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre confirmed that after a technical review of tje launch vehicle and technical data the launch plans were stood down.
It is the fourth time the take-off has been delayed. An original launch was planned for November 28th, with subsequent blast-offs planned on November 30 and December 1.
UAE’s Rashid Rover delay
No new date has been announced yet, but a date is expected soon after weather checks and further technical testing.
In a tweet the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre said: “SpaceX has announced a stand down from today’s launch of the Falcon 9 rocket, carrying aboard the Rashid Rover, after inspections of the launch vehicle and data review. A new target launch date will be confirmed.”
When it does eventually take off the SpaceX Falcon 9 will carry with it the UAE’s Rashid Rover.
It will be delivered by Japanese lunar exploration company ispace via its Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander. The company is the first to carry our a commercial cargo mission to the Moon.
The Rashid Rover, which weighs 10kg, will fly to the Moon on Mission 1 and will attempt to land on the Moon’s Atlas Crater on the south-eastern outer edge of the Mare Frigoris or Sea of Cold.
The lander is expected to reach the Moon in late April. The four-wheel rover, which was built by a small team of Emiratis at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai, will spend a lunar day – equivalent of 14 Earth days – on the Moon’s surface to study its geology and lunar dust.
The rover is built to take a carousel of images of the Moon’s surroundings via high-resolution cameras.
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