Mashable: Rashid Rover is named after the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum

UAE’s Rashid Rover is moving towards Moon, carrying with it the dreams of millions of Emiratis.

The UAE-built Rashid Rover is named after the former Ruler of Dubai, the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

After many delays, the Rashid rover lifted off on December 11, 2022, from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, USA.

Taking to their official Twitter account, the Japan-based ispace inc (ispace) which will land the Emirati-based rover on Moon wrote, “Mission 1's lander has sailed about 1.24 million km from the earth as of January 2, and will sail to about 1.4 million km, the farthest point from the earth, around January 20.”

ミッション1のランダーは1月2日時点で地球から約124万kmの地点を航行しており、1月20日頃には地球から最も離れた地点となる約140万km地点まで航行します。その後は月の方向に向けて航行しながら、航行状況に沿って軌道制御マヌーバを行い、月周回軌道投入を行う予定です。 (2/3)

— ispace_HAKUTO-R (@ispace_HAKUTO_R) January 2, 2023
ispace’s HAKUTO-R Mission 1 is carrying the Emirati rover and if the rover lands successfully, the UAE will become the fourth country to reach the moon.

On January 2, 2022, ispace wrote in a Tweet, “Today, at midnight on January 2, 2023, the second orbit control maneuver was carried out according to the mission operation plan, and was successfully completed!”

本日、2023年1月2日午前0時にミッション運用計画に沿って2回目の軌道制御マヌーバを実施し、無事完了しました！ (1/3) pic.twitter.com/Y2xvJFhni3

— ispace_HAKUTO-R (@ispace_HAKUTO_R) January 2, 2023
As per Khaleej Times, the first orbit control maneuver was completed on December 15, 2022, and once the lander reaches its farthest point from Earth, the third orbital correction maneuver may be performed, depending on its navigational status.

HAKUTO-R Mission 1 is set for moon landing after a four-month cruise phase.

However, the Emirati-made Rashid rover experienced many delays during its launch. First, it was supposed to be launched on November 22, 2022, but was moved three times to November 28, November 30, and then to December 1, 2022. It finally took off on December 11, 2022.