Dubai: Yamama Badwan
The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center announced that the date for the launch of the Emirates project to explore the moon, “Explorer Rashid”, will be next Sunday, December 11, at 11:38 am UAE time, on board the “Falcon 9” missile from Complex No. 40 at Cape Canaveral Cosmodrome in Florida, USA.
The first attempt had already been delayed, allowing SpaceX to run some additional checks before the launch of the vehicle. Once launched, the spacecraft aboard the Hector R lander will take a low-energy route to the Moon instead of a direct approach, which means that The landing will take regarding 5 months following the launch, that is, it will take place in April 2023, in the Atlas crater, located at 47.5 degrees north and 44.4 degrees east, on the southeastern outer edge of the Mare Frigoris region, or what is known as the “Sea of Cold”, located The northernmost point of the Moon, which was chosen to maintain flexibility during mission operations.
The launch window opened in early November, and will continue until March of next year 2023.
The Japanese company ISpace, through the landing vehicle “Haktor R”, provides services for delivering the explorer “Rashid” to the surface of the moon, on board the “Falcon 9” missile, in addition to the equipment for the project, and providing wire communications and energy, during the approaching phase of orbit. Lunar, radio communications following landing.
“SpaceX” said in a tweet on “Twitter” that the specialized teams completed additional inspections on the “Rashid” explorer launch vehicle, which is targeted no later than Sunday, December 11, at 11:38 am UAE time, i.e. 2:38 am. EDT.
