KEY POINTS

  • The UAE's first Moon Mission was originally scheduled to launch last Nov. 22
  • Since then, it had been moved thrice to Nov. 28, Nov. 30, and Dec. 1
  • Technical glitches and weather conditions are the common reasons for the delays

The UAE Moon Mission launch has been deferred again. This is the fourth time the launch has been delayed since its original schedule on Nov. 22.

The Rashid Rover launch was supposed to happen Thursday at 12:37 p.m. UAE time, but the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) announced in the morning that SpaceX had postponed the launch due to technical reasons.

The new target launch date remains unknown.

"SpaceX announced a stand down from today's launch of the Falcon 9 rocket, carrying abroad the Rashid Rover, after inspections of the launch vehicle and data review. A new target launch date will be confirmed," the MBRSC tweeted.

In its announcement Thursday, SpaceX wrote, "After further inspections of the launch vehicle and data review, we're standing down from tomorrow's (today) launch of iSpace Inc.'s HAKUTO-R Mission 1; a new target launch date will be shared once confirmed."

Global lunar exploration company iSpace Inc. also made the announcement on Twitter: "Dec. 1, 2022, launch attempt of its HAKUTO-R Mission 1 lunar lander has been postponed, which will allow SpaceX to perform additional pre-flight checks of the launch vehicle."

Amity Dubai Satellite Ground Station Project Director Sarath Raj explained that the major causes of the recent launch delays were technical glitches in the vehicle and weather situations, including the wind and thunderstorm-related sky electricity.

"It takes a tremendous amount of effort to launch a rocket," he said, adding the flight meteorologist should analyze 14 meteorological data to ensure that the launch was safe.

The first launch date of Rashid Rover was Nov. 22, but it was moved thrice to Nov. 28, Nov. 30, and then Dec. 1. Officials are hopeful that a new launch date for the Moon Mission will be announced in the coming days.

The UAE's Rashid Rover will be stored inside iSpace's Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander and transported to the moon's surface. The four-wheel vehicle will reach the moon next year, and will spend one lunar day on its surface to study its geology and dust.

Before Thursday's postponement, the Rashid Rover was expected to reach the moon by the end of April 2023.

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