The microscope imager CAM-M was developed for the Emirates Lunar Mission (ELM) program. This camera is part of the Rashid-1 lunar rover scientific instrument package. It is equipped with a three color RGB CMOS detector, delivering a spatial sampling varying between 20 and 27 $\mu $ m per pixel across its field of view. The viewing geometry of this camera was chosen such that its field of view on the ground is slightly ahead of the rover, thereby showing the undisturbed lunar surface. Its multi-purpose illumination system allows to acquire images in shadowed areas but as well to support the rover drive operations. Since CAM-M does not contain any moving parts, its imaging performance depends on suitable positioning of the rover with respect to the field of view. Hence, CAM-M should be seen as a scouting instrument which acquires images at every possible stop along its traverse. This paper provides a summarizing description of the instruments design, its operation concepts, and to illustrate this camera’s scientific capabilities by means of data collected during on-ground testing. Due to the unsuccessful landing attempt of the lunar lander which was carrying the Rashid-1 rover to the Moon, CAM-M was unable to collect any data on the lunar surface.
