UAE set to build lander for Emirates asteroid belt mission

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Supreme Space Council, recently witnessed the signing of a pivotal agreement to develop a lander for the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA). This landmark deal is a major milestone in the UAE’s ambitious space exploration efforts, highlighting the growing collaboration between both government and private sector players.

The EMA mission, which spans an ambitious 13 years, consists of a six-year spacecraft development phase followed by a seven-year journey to the asteroid belt beyond Mars. The spacecraft, named MBR Explorer, will conduct a series of flybys of seven asteroids, gathering invaluable scientific data. The first encounter is slated for February 2030, marking the start of a pioneering exploration of this distant region of space.

The MBR Explorer is scheduled for launch in March 2028, with a three-week launch window. The spacecraft will embark on an extraordinary 5-billion-kilometer journey, utilizing gravity-assist maneuvers around Venus, Earth, and Mars to adjust its velocity and facilitate the asteroid flybys. These close encounters will offer unprecedented insights into the composition and characteristics of the targeted asteroids.

A key component of the mission will be the deployment of a lander, which will be sent to study Justitia, the seventh asteroid in the mission’s trajectory. The Technology Innovation Institute (TII) will lead the design, development, and testing of the lander, in collaboration with local academic institutions. TII’s extensive technical expertise and capacity to handle such a complex mission were central to its selection for this role, following a competitive review process.

The UAE Space Agency’s commitment to this project also includes a strong emphasis on collaboration with local startups, such as 971Space and SADEEM Space Solutions, which participated in the mission’s concept review phase. Through these collaborations, the agency aims to accelerate growth in the UAE’s space and technology sectors, positioning the country as a leading space-faring nation.

By merging scientific exploration with industry development, the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt promises to be a defining chapter in the UAE's space ambitions, offering new insights into space science while boosting the nation’s position in the global space industry.