Rashid rover: UAE Moon mission set for November 22 launch

The UAE's mission to the Moon is now scheduled to launch on November 22 from a Cape Canaveral spaceport in the US state of Florida.

Japanese lunar exploration company ispace has built the lander that will deliver the Emirati-built Rashid rover to the lunar surface.

The Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander, with the rover stored inside it, has been delivered to Cape Canaveral to be launched on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

Previously, a launch window of November 9 to 15 was given, but ispace said the new date would allow for “best preparation”.

“In careful co-ordination with SpaceX, both sides agreed to target no earlier than November 22, 2022, for launch of the Hakuto-R M1,” the company said.

“This updated target launch date allows for best preparation for the mission when considering the fuel-loading schedule for the lander and launch date availability. An updated launch date will be announced once confirmed.”

Rashid, the first rover under the UAE's long-term Moon exploration programme, will spend one lunar day — 14 Earth days — studying lunar properties.

Once launched, it will take the lander about three months to reach the Moon. If it lands successfully, the rover will climb down a ramp and begin its exploration mission.

It will also be the first cargo mission to the Moon if all goes well.

“This mission will be a historic first not only for our company, but also for the development of the cislunar [the space between Earth and the moon] economy,” said Takeshi Hakamada, founder of ispace.

“On our first mission, we are honoured to work with Nasa to complete a commercial transaction of lunar regolith and carry payloads from agencies including Jaxa and Mbrsc (Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre) along with our commercial customers and partners.”

Dr Hamad Al Marzooqi, project manager of the Emirates Lunar Mission, said the new launch date would give them additional time to focus on the rover’s launch and landing phases.

The team have been carrying out tests on a replica of the Rashid rover in preparation for the mission.

“We hosted trial sessions to prepare our engineering team on how to remotely conduct scientific and geology research using the rover,” said Dr Al Marzooqi.

“The model of the rover for the rehearsal is similar to the flight model that will be carried by the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in November.

“The test rover has received and executed daily commands via satellite communications and has successfully completed the mission control rehearsal.”

The Hakuto-R Mission 1 lunar lander is delivered to Florida's Cape Canaveral from where it will carry the UAE's Rashid rover to the Moon. Photo: ispace
The Hakuto lander with the Rashid rover stored inside, ready to be shipped to Florida. Photo: ispace
Rashid lunar rover's final prototype. Photo: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre
An Emirati engineer tested the Moon rover in remote desert areas of Dubai. Photo: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre
Dr Hamad Al Marzooqi, project manager of the Emirates lunar mission. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Development of the lander nears completion. Photo: ispace
Emirati engineers test parts of the Rashid rover. Photo: Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre
Emirati engineers test parts of the Rashid rover. Photo: Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre
A full Moon gleams above Buenos Aires. AFP

Who is Mohammed Al Halbousi?

The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.

The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.

He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.

He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.

He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.

Medicus AI

Started: 2016

Founder(s): Dr Baher Al Hakim, Dr Nadine Nehme and Makram Saleh

Based: Vienna, Austria; started in Dubai

Sector: Health Tech

Staff: 119

Funding: €7.7 million (Dh31m)

Financial considerations before buying a property

Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.

“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.

Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.

Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.

How the bonus system works

The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.

The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.

There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).

All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.

Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

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