UAE lunar mission: meet the Emirati woman whose logo design will reach the Moon

The logo has seven stars – one for each emirate – and the late Sheikh Rashid's signature

Hind Bin Jarsh AlFalasi, 24, is the Emirati woman who has designed the logo for UAE's lunar mission. Reem Mohammed/The National

The Emirates Lunar Mission logo as revealed by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai. It features the signature of Sheikh Rashid, the late ruler of Dubai. Courtesy: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Twitter

The logo will be featured on the Rashid Rover, which is slated for launch in 2022. Courtesy: MBRSC

Ms AlFalasi wanted to personalise the logo and show the mission's importance, so she added Sheikh Rashid's signature and inscribed it on top of the Moon. Reem Mohammed/The National

Only three countries have been able to land missions on the Moon so far. Courtesy: MBRSC

China is attempting another lunar mission. Its Chang'e 5 spacecraft has entered lunar orbit and aims to bring back rock and soil samples. UAE's lunar mission also aims to study lunar soil, as well as dust. Here, a Long March-5 rocket carrying the Chinese spacecraft lifts off on November 24. AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

Ms Al Falasi's career as a graphic designer has taken off. She will also be helping design the logo for the MBZ-Sat satellite, UAE's first fully in-house built spacecraft. Reem Mohammed/The National

The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre is carrying out the Emirates Lunar Mission. Reem Mohammed/The National

A young Emirati woman is elated that her design for the UAE’s landmark mission to the Moon will be featured on the Rashid rover.

The logo was revealed last week by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, and represents the country's – and the Arab world's – first lunar mission, scheduled for launch in 2024.

Hind bin Jarsh AlFalasi, 24, is the creative mind behind the art, which includes seven stars to represent each emirate and the Arabic signature of Sheikh Rashid, the late ruler of Dubai and father of the present Ruler and country's Vice President, Sheikh Mohammed.

The circular logo is bordered with the UAE flag. The Moon is imprinted below, with the signature inscribed on it – meant to represent that “the UAE has landed on the surface”.

“I feel very happy and proud that a logo I designed will be going all the way to the Moon,” said Ms AlFalasi, who joined the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre this year as a graphic designer.

“It’s a huge step for my career. Logos are very important in space missions because they represent what the whole project is about. This is the first Arab mission to the Moon, so it’s a huge deal for me.”

The US, China and the Soviet Union are the only countries that have been able to land spacecraft on the Moon.

China is attempting another lunar mission. Its Chang'e 5 spacecraft entered lunar orbit on Saturday and aims to bring back rock and soil samples.

The Rashid rover will also study lunar soil and dust. It will send back thousands of images of the near side of the Moon.

“It’s an important mission and I wanted to show that in my design. I was keen on adding more character to the logo and I personalised it by adding Sheikh Rashid’s signature. The rover has been named after him, too,” Ms AlFalasi said.

She designs for social media posts at MBRSC, but creating ones for space missions sent her over the moon.

“I’ve always been fascinated by space – the colours and planets have always grabbed my attention,” said Ms AlFalasi, who graduated from Zayed University as a visual artist.

She will also be involved in designing the logo for the MBZ-Sat satellite, which is scheduled for launch in 2023.

It will be the first Emirati satellite to be manufactured and assembled entirely in the UAE.

Some well-known space mission insignias include Nasa’s worm logo that was introduced in 1975. By popular demand, it was recently brought back for space missions after being discontinued for several years.

Nasa’s original meatball design – the blue sphere with a red chevron piercing through it – has been used since 1959.

The logo has become a popular fashion emblem worldwide.

Space-inspired patches are also common. The latest one worn by Emirati astronauts shows an Emirati looking towards Mars.