The United Arab Emirates eyes a foothold on the Moon plans for a crewless mission in 2024 – Blasting News United States

The moon is the new destination of the United States, the Soviet Union, China, and the United Arab Emirates. America had sent the first man to the moon in the 1960s and subsequently diverted its attention to concentrate on Mars, where it has two robots operating 24x7. China has landed its robot on the far side of the moon, an area no one has yet thought of exploring. Donald Trump wants NASA to revisit the moon and send a woman there by 2024.

On its part, the Los Angeles Times reveals the United Arab Emirates has plans for an unmanned mission to the moon, also in 2024. A top Emirati official says its success would mean the United Arab Emirates could become only the fourth country to achieve that milestone.

It has been active in the field of space research in recent years. An Emirati space probe is already heading to Mars. United Arab Emirates launched it a couple of months earlier.

Moreover, in preparation for the probable moon landing, it had sent one of its astronauts to the International Space Station. The purpose was to get trained, gain experience, and be acquainted with the intricacies of working in space. These might set the foundation for the future. In 2017, there was news that the United Arab Emirates UAE wanted to develop an astronaut corps.

Los Angeles Times quotes the ruler of UAE who conveyed via Twitter - "It will be an Emirati-made lunar rover that will land on the surface of the moon in 2024 in areas that have not been explored previously by human missions." He is Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who also serves as the vice president and prime minister.

He maintained silence on issues like areas that the United Arab Emirates would explore on the moon or the methodology of launching the rover into space.

The United Arab Emirates launched its mission to Mars from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. The name of its orbiter is "Amal" or "Hope." Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was involved in launching the probe to the red planet and said a decision on the moon rover's launch is yet to be taken.

Los Angeles Times describes the 22-pound moon rover. There would be a range of cameras and photographic equipment installed in it to study the surface. The rover would also check out the moon's mobility and the interaction of different surfaces with lunar particles. The United Arab Emirates is a late starter and is determined to make its presence felt.

It is obviously upbeat about its space-related activities. The United States, the Soviet Union, and China have proved their worth. Each country has an agenda of its own, which revolves around the availability of natural resources on the alien surface. It will provide an impetus to robotics, artificial intelligence, and Renewable Energy. These are important when planning for activities in remote regions.

The success of Moon mission 2024 would make the United Arab Emirates the fourth country to have accomplished the feat. Others like India and Israel tried but failed, and the United Arab Emirates is hopeful. Los Angeles Times adds that the Mars probe "Amal" would reach the red planet in February 2021.

That is the year the United Arab Emirates celebrates 50 years of its existence. By September, its Mars rover would become active. It would transmit data on the Martian atmosphere for sharing with others, and the United Arab Emirates hopes to colonize the planet by 2117, says Los Angeles Times.

According to Al Jazeera, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai emirate, announced that the Moon rover's name would be Rashid after his late father, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum. The ruler of Dubai emirate also said participating in the moon exploration is "part of the United Arab Emirates' space strategy." It would help build new knowledge capabilities and advance the country's "scientific, technical, and research environment." He also said the lunar rover's construction would be on the state's land and by its engineers.

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The United Arab Emirates eyes a foothold on the Moon plans for a crewless mission in 2024 - Blasting News United States