From launching the first Arab mission to the Moon to glimpsing the early universe using the world’s most powerful telescope — 2022 is set to be a busy year for space exploration.
The Moon will continue to be a major focus in global space exploration efforts.
The UAE will send its Rashid rover to the lunar surface, marking the beginning of the country’s ambitious long-term Moon exploration programme.
Space agencies in others parts of the world also have lofty goals for the year ahead.
Nasa hopes to launch the first mission under its Artemis programme, which aims to build a sustainable human presence on the Moon.
South Korea plans to launch a lunar orbiter.
Scientists will commence operations of the James Webb Space Telescope, a $10 billion space telescope from Nasa and European Space Agency, after it was launched into the skies on Christmas Day.
Capable of seeing 13.5 billion years into the past, the space observatory is expected to create an astronomical revolution.
The National looks at some of the most exciting missions scheduled for 2022.
UAE to send rover to Moon
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An artist's impression of the UAE's lunar rover called Rashid. -
Dr Hamad Al Marzooqi, project manager of the Emirates Lunar Mission at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
An artist's impression of iSpace's Hakuto-Reboot lunar lander. It will carry UAE's Rashid rover to the surface of the Moon in 2022. -
The UAE aims to land the Rashid rover on the near side of the Moon due to its smoother surface. -
The far side of the Moon remains largely unexplored, but Nasa is turning its focus back to the lunar surface. -
The HAKUTO-R lander, which will deliver the UAE's Rashid rover to the lunar surface in 2022, is now in final stages of assembly. -
The ispace team completed the assembly of the lander's structure thermal model in April. Courtesy: ispace -
The final assembly of the lander is being carried out in co-operation with the Ariane Group GmbH at the Ariane Group facility in Lampoldshausen, Germany. Courtesy: ispace -
Using a lander and rocket that is already available helps Emirati engineers and scientists get quicker and easier access to space. Courtesy: ispace -
The initial concept design of the Rashid rover. Courtesy: MBRSC -
Rashid rover's thermal imager will analyse the Moon's properties through thermal energy. Courtesy: MBRSC -
The Langmuir probes on the rover will analyse the lunar surface charge and electric fields. Courtesy: MBRSC -
One of the rover's two high-resolution optical imagers that will take photos of the Moon. Courtesy: MBRSC
Engineers at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre have been planning a Moon mission since 2017.
They have built a 10-kilogram rover called Rashid that will study lunar soil and its properties.
It is scheduled for launch between August and December.
To land on the lunar surface, the rover will be placed inside a lander built by iSpace, a Japanese private company.
The Hakuto-R lander will take off on a Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
New Emirati astronauts begin Nasa training
Two new Emirati astronauts are to begin their training at Nasa’s Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas, in January.
Mohammed Al Mulla, a Dubai Police helicopter pilot, and Nora Al Matrooshi, a mechanical engineer, will spend two years in astronaut training.
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The UAE's new astronauts Nora Al Matrooshi and Mohammed Al Mulla at the Address Hotel, Dubai Mall in Dubai. All pictures by Chris Whiteoak -
Emirati astronaut Nora Al Matrooshi said the opportunity to travel into space would be the realisation of a childhood dream -
Mohammed Al Mulla will join an elite list of Emirati astronauts -
Mohammed Al Mulla and Nora Al Matrooshi. Chris Whiteoak/ The National -
Saeed Al Kormastaji, UAE astronaut office manager, speaks during a press conference introducing the country's newest astronauts to the world -
Saeed Al Kormastaji, UAE astronaut office manager, at the press conference in Dubai -
Saeed Al Kormastaji, UAE astronaut office manager (L), Salem Al Marri, UAE Astronaut Programme manager and Yousuf Al Shaibani, director general of MBRSC (M). with the UAE's new astronauts, Nora Al Matrooshi and Mohammed Al Mulla at the Address Hotel, Dubai Mall in Dubai
They will learn the systems of the International Space Station, Russian language, robotics and how to perform spacewalks.
Once they graduate, both astronauts would become eligible for space missions.
These are the generation of astronauts that could go to the Moon one day. The UAE has its sights set on human missions to the lunar surface.
Nasa to launch Artemis 1
The US space agency is launching the first of its Artemis missions next year.
Nasa is prepping the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis 1 launch on March 12, which will involve a three-week, un-crewed test flight to the Moon.
During the mission, the Orion spacecraft will fly 100 kilometres above the Moon’s surface and then use its gravitation force to be captured into an opposite orbit about 70,000km from the Moon.
It will stay there for about six days to collect data and to allow mission control to measure the spacecraft’s performance.
The Artemis programme aims to build a sustainable human presence on the Moon, including a lunar-orbiting station, called Gateway, capable of accommodating astronauts.
Artemis 2 launch is planned for 2024 and includes a crewed mission that will orbit the Moon.
Artemis 3, the first human lunar mission under the programme, has been delayed until 2025.
China’s Tiangong space station completion
Completion of China’s new space station is scheduled for the end of 2022.
The Tiangong’s core module Tianhe is already in orbit and has been hosting astronauts, including its first female astronaut.
Wang Yaping was launched to the station earlier this year. The 41-year-old also became the first Chinese female astronaut to perform a spacewalk on November 8.
South Korea’s first Moon mission
South Korea plans to launch its first lunar mission in 2022.
The Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter will be launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
Some of the science goals include studying the lunar environment and topography — forms and features of the surface and identify potential landing sites for future missions.
It will also test space internet communication during its one-year mission.
James Webb Space Telescope
The launch of a $10 billion space observatory from French Guiana, South America, was successfully completed in Christmas Day.
The James Webb Space Telescope will be capable of looking back 13.5 billion years to see the first stars and galaxies of the universe and search for signs of life.
It has been in development by US and European space agencies for two decades and faced several delays.
Once operational, it would be 100 times more powerful than the Hubble Space Telescope, which for 31 years has made countless discoveries and provided millions of images of planets, galaxies, nebulas and stars.
It would be placed in a different orbit than the Hubble and much further out in space, allowing it to see greater distances.
30 stunning images of the UAE from space — in pictures
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The UAE (centre-right) is well-lit during the night and is very visible from space. This image was captured from the International Space Station. Nasa -
Nasa astronaut Jessica Meir shared this image of Abu Dhabi two months after Emirati astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri returned to Earth from the space station. Jessica Meir Twitter -
A stunning image of Downtown Dubai taken in 2012 by the Pleiades satellite. The Burj Khalifa is visible. European Space Agency -
The largest mosque in Sharjah captured by Emirati satellite KhaliafSat. Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre -
An image of Al Ain in 1984, when there was not a lot of greenery. Abu Dhabi emirate is now considered a green oasis with a major focus in agriculture. Nasa's Earth Observatory -
The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre counted 45,000 palm trees in Al Ain. The satellite images are helping to monitor the quantity and health of thousands of trees. MBRSC -
Umm Al Quwain, one of the seven emirates of the UAE, seen from space. The emirate is on a peninsula and has many attractive sites, including ancient forts. Zoom Earth -
The Corniche Park in Umm Al Quwain (top) and Municipal Park on the bottom side of the image. Zoom Earth -
KhalifaSat captured Jebel Jais, the highest summit in the UAE which is about 2,000 metres above sea level. It also has the world’s longest zipline. MBRSC -
Fujairah is on the east coast of the UAE and is known for its beaches and the Hajar mountains. The mountainous areas are visible in this image, as well as the Fujairah International Airport and the Port Fujairah on the top right. Zoom Earth -
Abu Dhabi’s Sir Bani Yas Island captured from space in 2010. The island is a major tourist attract with a mix of wildlife, archaeological sites and luxury hotel retreats. Nasa -
Dubai seen from the International Space Station. Nasa -
The Strait of Hormuz separates the UAE and Iran. Nasa -
The UAE captured from space in 2013. Nasa’s Earth Observatory -
Hazza Al Mansouri took this photo of Umm Ghafa in Al Ain from the space station in 2019. It is the village where his colleague and reserve astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi grew up. Sultan Al Neyadi twitter -
The Dubai Expo site captured by KhalifaSat in 2019. The much-anticipated event is set to begin on October 1, 2021. MBRSC -
The man-made Love Lake in Dubai’s Al Qudra desert. MBRSC -
Dust blows over the Arabian Gulf in 2013. The UAE is on the right side of this image and Saudi Arabia is on the left. Nasa’s Earth Observatory -
A dust plume over the UAE in 2009. Nasa -
The Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Mosque in Al Ain captured by KhalifaSat. It features a magnificent dome, which measures 86 metres in diameter. MBRSC -
The Copernicus Sentinel 2 mission captured this striking view of Abu Dhabi from space. The dark green patch of land is the Mangrove National Park. Ferrari World can be seen in the centre-right of the image. European Space Agency -
An incredible view of the UAE captured by Hazza Al Mansouri in 2019. Hazza Al Mansouri twitter -
An image of Abu Dhabi taken from the International Space Station as it orbited 423 kilometres above Oman. Nasa -
Planes can be seen parked at Dubai International Airport during the Coronavirus Pandemic in May 2020, when travel was restricted. MBRSC -
KhalifaSat captured this stunning image of Abu Dhabi in 2020. MBRSC -
Another view of the UAE’s capital city of Abu Dhabi from space. MBRSC -
One of the most recent photos of Dubai taken in 2020 from space, showing the Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali and the World Islands. MBRSC -
Mangroves, salt domes, salt flats and coral reefs on the south-west coast of the UAE, near Abu Dhabi, captured in 2001. Nasa’s Earth Observatory -
The first image captured by KhalifaSat in 2018. It is the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. MBRSC -
A manufacturing site on the Arabian Gulf coast of the UAE, near Abu Dhabi. Nasa
