UAE Signs Key Agreement for Asteroid Belt Mission Lander

UAE Signs Key Agreement for Asteroid Belt Mission Lander

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Supreme Space Council, attended the signing of a major agreement for the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA). The deal focuses on developing a lander that will explore the asteroid Justitia, the seventh and final target of the mission.

Credit: Emirates 24/7

The agreement was signed by Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports and Chairman of the UAE Space Agency, and Faisal Al Bannai, Adviser to the UAE President for Strategic Research and Advanced Technology Affairs, representing the Technology Innovation Institute (TII).

Sheikh Hamdan highlighted the importance of this project, emphasizing the UAE’s vision to be a leader in global space exploration. He explained that the mission reflects the nation’s ambition to transform challenges into opportunities and to inspire future generations to explore new frontiers.

The UAE Space Agency has tasked TII with leading the lander’s design, development, and testing phases. This effort will also involve academic institutions and startups, fostering collaboration between public and private sectors. Notably, UAE-based startups 971Space and SADEEM Space Solutions contributed to the initial concept review of the lander.

The 13-year EMA mission will include a six-year spacecraft development phase, followed by a seven-year journey through the Main Asteroid Belt beyond Mars. During this time, the MBR Explorer spacecraft will perform close flybys of seven asteroids, collecting groundbreaking data. The lander, developed in the UAE, will then target Justitia for in-depth exploration.

The project aligns with the UAE Space Agency’s strategy to support the private sector, creating opportunities for local and international startups while advancing the country’s position in the global space sector. Sheikh Hamdan reiterated the UAE’s commitment to fostering innovation and empowering Emirati talent to achieve unprecedented milestones in space exploration.

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