Core Points - The US company "Firefly Aerospace" has announced that it will add the UAE's Rashid 2 lunar rover project to its mission, expected to land on the far side of the moon around 2026, indicating that the US has taken over this launch project, leading the UAE to terminate its collaboration with China's Chang'e 7 lunar mission [2] - The launch of the Rashid 2 lunar rover was originally to be executed by China, following a memorandum of understanding signed in September 2022 between China and the UAE's Rashid Space Center for the Chang'e 7 mission [2] - The US has publicly declared a ban on the use of equipment containing US technology in China's Chang'e 7 mission, which has directly impacted the UAE's plans [4] Regulatory Changes - The US has revised the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), which prohibits the use of satellites containing US-manufactured or ITAR-controlled components from being launched on Chinese rockets, affecting the UAE's lunar rover that includes US technology [4] - This regulatory change has resulted in the UAE needing to pay for the US to launch its lunar rover, effectively disrupting a potential revenue stream for China [4] Business Implications - Following a visit by former President Trump to the UAE in May, the UAE selected Firefly Aerospace to transport its second lunar rover, Rashid 2, to the moon, indicating a shift in business relationships [4] - The UAE's previous experience with a failed launch of the first Rashid rover in December 2022 raises questions about the reliability of using US rockets for future missions [4]