The UAE's space ambitions received a boost with Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) signing a landmark agreement with US-based Firefly Aerospace to deploy the country's Rashid 2 Rover on the far side of the moon, as part of its

Under the agreement, Firefly Aerospace will provide the lunar lander to deploy the . The Rashid 2 Rover will be deployed to the far side of the on Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander stacked on the Elytra Dark orbital vehicle. The Rashid 2 Rover will join Blue Ghost Mission 2, in 2026, which will be Firefly Aerospace’s second lunar mission, alongside payloads from Australia, the European Space Agency (ESA), and Nasa.

"The UAE’s mission to explore the far side of the Moon places our nation among a select group of countries advancing the frontiers of lunar exploration," Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, who witnessed the signing, said in a statement on Thursday, May 22.

"Our objective is not only to reach new destinations in space, but to generate meaningful knowledge that contributes to humanity’s understanding of the universe. The agreement with Firefly Aerospace reflects our strategy of forging strategic global collaborations that advance our long-term scientific and space technology ambitions,” added Sheikh Hamdan, who is also the President of MBRSC.

“We are committed to shaping a sustainable space industry ecosystem that fosters innovation, facilitates international knowledge exchange, and supports the continued growth of the UAE’s scientific and technological leadership. Through missions like these, the UAE is set to further strengthen its position in the global space sector as a major player in expanding the horizons of discovery,” the Dubai Crown Prince elaborated.

Jason Kim, CEO of Firefly Aerospace, said, “On the heels of Firefly’s flawless moon landing and operations, our team is looking forward to collaborating with the UAE and further expanding our representation of Artemis Accords nations on this groundbreaking mission to the far side of the Moon. We’re honoured to support the international space community with our versatile Blue Ghost and Elytra spacecraft that can stack together to provide unique access to both lunar orbit and the lunar surface.”

Photo: MBRSC/X

MBRSC has outlined a set of ambitious scientific goals for the Rashid 2 Rover, which will demonstrate lunar surface mobility on the far side of the moon — where terrain and communication pose greater challenges than the near side. As part of the mission, the rover will undergo the material adhesion determination experiment, using various materials on its wheels to evaluate their durability against lunar dust. The findings can inform the design of future technologies such as spacesuits, habitats, and other critical infrastructure.

Equipped with multiple cameras and scientific probes, the Rashid 2 Rover will study the moon’s plasma environment, geology, and thermal conditions. It will also investigate the properties of lunar soil, surface structure temperatures, and the lunar photoelectron sheath, which will provide valuable insights to support future in-situ resource utilisation and advance further exploration of deep space. The rover will further carry a radio transmitter to communicate with other payloads during the mission.

The Emirates Lunar Mission forms a pivotal part of the of the broader space exploration strategy under the UAE’s National Space Programme, that prioritises the advancement of scientific knowledge, the empowerment of future generations, and the strengthening of international cooperation.