UAE - Mubasher: Japan’s ispace has inked a contract with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) to transport Emirates Lunar Mission’s ‘Rashid’ rover to the Moon on ispace’s lunar lander in 2022.

Under this agreement, ispace will be the implementation partner to MBRSC on the Emirates Lunar Mission, the Arab world's first of its kind mission, according to a press release on Wednesday.

The Japanese company will also provide rover with wired communication and power during the cruise phase and wireless communication on the lunar surface.

Upon the execution of the mission, the UAE and Japan will be the next two nations to successfully transport spacecraft on the lunar surface, following the US, Russia, and China.

The rover will be designed and built in the UAE by a 100% Emirati team of engineers, experts, and researchers and was intended to send it into space by 2024.

The Director-General of MBRSC, Yousuf Hamad Al Shaibani, said: "We are now leveraging our advanced scientific and technological hub by partnering with international entities that will aid in creating a new space economy landscape in the country."

The Founder & CEO of ispace, Takeshi Hakamada, commented: "We are pleased to advance collaboration between the UAE and Japan in space exploration, as well as to inspire more collaborations for lunar exploration between the public and commercial sector around the world."