The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre has announced an expansion of its collaboration with the French National Centre for Space Studies. This partnership is part of the ongoing preparations for the launch of the “Rashid 2” rover in 2026, as a segment of the Emirates lunar exploration project. The goal is to equip the mission with innovative technologies that will enhance its scientific capabilities and operational efficiency, thereby solidifying the UAE’s leadership role in space exploration.
As a significant development in this context, the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre has signed a memorandum of understanding with the French National Centre for Space Studies. The agreement aims to bolster cooperation regarding the “Rashid 2” mission within the Emirates lunar exploration framework.
The agreement was signed by Salim Hamid Al Marri, Director General of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, and Lionel Suchet, Deputy CEO of the French National Centre for Space Studies, during the Global Space Industry Week held in Paris.
This collaboration builds on the successful partnership initiated with the “Rashid 1” mission, with both sides currently working on advancing the scientific and technical capabilities of the new mission. Under this agreement, the French National Centre for Space Studies will provide Rashid 2 with two cameras and a CASPEX unit, which have proven effective in previous space missions. These cameras will aid in processing images captured by the rover during its mission, which will support the scientific objectives on the lunar surface.
Furthermore, to further enhance technical support, the French National Centre for Space Studies recently hosted the Rashid 2 team in Toulouse, where the rover underwent thermal vacuum testing under conditions that replicate the harsh environment on the moon’s surface. This testing is crucial to ensure the efficiency of the rover and its subsystems in such conditions.
Earlier this year, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Head of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, witnessed the signing of a strategic agreement between the centre and Firefly Aerospace. Under this agreement, Firefly Aerospace will provide the lunar landing platform to be used for deploying Rashid 2 on the moon’s far side. The “Rashid 2” rover will be outfitted with a suite of advanced scientific instruments to study the lunar plasma environment, geology, and thermal conditions.