UAE Signs Strategic Space Agreement with Firefly Aerospace for Rashid 2 Lunar Mission.

The UAE’s ambitions in space exploration just took another bold step forward. The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) has signed a strategic agreement with U.S.-based Firefly Aerospace to deploy the Rashid 2 rover to the far side of the Moon. The signing, witnessed by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, marks a new chapter in the UAE’s rapidly growing space journey.

Under the agreement, Firefly Aerospace will provide its Blue Ghost lander — stacked on the Elytra Dark orbital vehicle — to deliver the Rashid 2 rover in 2026. The mission will make the UAE one of the few nations to explore the Moon’s far side, joining an elite list of countries contributing to the next era of lunar science and exploration.

Beyond the mission itself, this partnership is a statement of intent. It shows the UAE’s commitment to shaping a sustainable, innovation-driven space industry that supports global collaboration and knowledge sharing. The Emirates Lunar Mission aligns closely with the country’s vision to build an ecosystem that fosters scientific leadership, homegrown talent, and international cooperation.

The Rashid 2 rover will conduct valuable experiments on the Moon’s surface, testing material endurance against lunar dust, studying the plasma environment, and collecting geological and thermal data. These findings could shape future lunar habitats, spacesuits, and infrastructure for deep space missions. By exploring the unexplored, the UAE is not only reaching new frontiers — it’s helping humanity understand them better.