Mission Control is proud to announce its role in providing a communications subsystem for the
upcoming Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) Rashid Rover 2 supporting the Emirates Lunar Mission.
Mission Control has been selected by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre to provide wireless communications technology that will enable seamless surface operations for the Rashid Rover 2 under the Emirates Lunar Mission.
The Rashid Rover 2 will be delivered by Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar lander on Blue Ghost Mission 2, which is targeting a landing on the far side of the Moon in 2027. Rashid 2 hosts multiple science instruments designed to study the Moon’s geographic features and its surface and thermal properties, investigate the interaction of different materials with the lunar surface and environment, including adhesion and abrasion effects, and study plasma activity near the lunar surface. The rover will also collect valuable data to improve our understanding of lunar dust behavior and to guide the design and development of future missions and technologies for operating on the Moon’s surface. This mission marks an exciting collaboration between Canada, the UAE, and the United States, showcasing the continued importance of international partnerships in space exploration.
This will be Mission Control’s fourth contribution to a lunar rover mission, building on their strong legacy of enabling next-generation surface operations. Mission Control previously supported two lunar rover missions with operations and autonomy technologies, including the Rashid Rover 1 mission launched aboard the ispace Hakuto-R lander in 2022, and in addition to Rashid Rover 2, is currently preparing for another rover mission in development – BEACON – a joint demonstration with Astrobotic Technology Inc.
Mission Control’s surface communications solution, originally developed with support from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), is designed to enable reliable, high-performance wireless communications on the lunar surface, in even the most demanding conditions. For the Rashid Rover 2 mission, this will play a key role in enabling real-time connectivity between the rover and its supporting infrastructure — a vital capability on the Moon’s far side.
“We are honoured to be a trusted partner to MBRSC for the Rashid Rover 2 lunar mission. Mission Control’s contribution of mission-critical lunar infrastructure keeps Canada at the forefront of this new age of exploration on the Moon,” said Dr. Michele Faragalli, CTO at Mission Control. Mission Control is pleased to work closely with both MBRSC and Firefly Aerospace to support the integration, testing, and mission operations of Rashid Rover 2. This collaboration highlights Mission Control’s continued commitment to enabling exploration through cutting-edge software and communications systems.
As a proudly Canadian company, Mission Control is honored to contribute to this international mission, pushing the boundaries of exploration and strengthening global partnerships in the space sector.
