Follow the latest news on the UAE's Rashid Rover moon launch
The Japanese lunar lander with a UAE-built rover on board has been integrated onto a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket for the launch on Wednesday.
SpaceX will attempt to launch the Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander, developed by private company ispace, at 12.39pm UAE time, from the Launch Complex 40 pad at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The National is on the Space Coast and will be covering the launch live.
The 10kg Rashid rover is one of many government and commercial payloads that the lander is carrying, with a landing attempt on the Moon expected at the end of April.
“We are pleased to have finished the first phase of the Mission 1 with the final preparations before launch completed,” said Takeshi Hakamada, founder of ispace.
“We have achieved so much in the six short years since we first began conceptualising this project in 2016.”
Rashid rover's journey — in pictures
The weather on the Space Coast so far looks suitable for a launch, with clear skies but periodic clouds expected.
There is only a four per cent chance of rain.
This will be the 55th launch for SpaceX this year. The company's reusable Falcon 9 rocket has a very high success rate.
This is the UAE's first Moon mission, with more rovers to be developed in the future.
The Rashid rover has been built by engineers from the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre.
A core team of 11 are behind the mission’s development and have been working on it since 2017.
It has been named in honour of the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed, the former Ruler of Dubai, and the father of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.
Ispace will attempt to land the mission in the Atlas crater in the Mare Frigoris site, located in the far-north of the Moon’s near side.
The Rashid rover will spend one lunar day exploring the area, capturing scientific data and images.
It will study the properties of lunar soil, the petrography and geology of the Moon, dust movement, and study surface plasma conditions and the Moon's photoelectron sheath.
Lunar dust, or regolith, is one of the main challenges astronauts face on the Moon.
It was during the Apollo missions that scientists learnt how lunar dust stuck to spacesuits, causing erosion and operational problems.
The launch on Wednesday will be streamed live by SpaceX.
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
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Tank warfare
Lt Gen Erik Petersen, deputy chief of programs, US Army, has argued it took a “three decade holiday” on modernising tanks.
“There clearly remains a significant armoured heavy ground manoeuvre threat in this world and maintaining a world class armoured force is absolutely vital,” the general said in London last week.
“We are developing next generation capabilities to compete with and deter adversaries to prevent opportunism or miscalculation, and, if necessary, defeat any foe decisively.”
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes.
Where to stay
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.
Married Malala
Malala Yousafzai is enjoying married life, her father said.
The 24-year-old married Pakistan cricket executive Asser Malik last year in a small ceremony in the UK.
Ziauddin Yousafzai told The National his daughter was ‘very happy’ with her husband.
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