The mission spans 13 years, with a six-year spacecraft development phase followed by a seven-year voyage to the main asteroid belt beyond Mars.
In the presence of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of the Supreme Space Council, the UAE Space Agency and the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) has signed an agreement to design and develop the EMA Lander which will be aboard the MBR Explorer, and will be deployed to study the seventh asteroid Justitia, as part of the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA).
The agreement was signed by His Excellency Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports and Chairman of the UAE Space Agency, and His Excellency Faisal Al Bannai, Secretary-General of the Advanced Technology Research Council.
Under this agreement, TII will lead the design, development and testing phases of the lander, as well as providing opportunities for startups participation in the development of the project, in line with the missions commitment of allocating 50% of the project to UAE based companies, as it aims to create substantial economic opportunities, spur Emirati startups, and attract international partnerships.
Mohsen Al Awadhi, Director of the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt, said: ‘The Technology Innovation Institute was selected due to their vast expertise and technical capabilities in the field of advanced technology, which will be a great asset in promoting the mission’s success. This selection also reflects our keenness to leverage the best national expertise and capabilities to achieve our future objectives and execute sophisticated space projects in line with the highest international standards. EMA is progressing according to the schedule, and we will work together with our partners to ensure the success of the mission, develop a sustainable and integrated ecosystem in our national space sector, and consolidate the UAE’s position as a leading country in this vital sector.”
Dr Najwa Aaraj, CEO of Technology Innovation Institute, added: “At the Technology Innovation Institute, we are honoured to lead the design and development of the lander for the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt, a testament to our unparalleled expertise in executing highly complex, multidisciplinary projects. This groundbreaking collaboration underscores the UAEs pioneering efforts in interplanetary exploration and the cultivation of a thriving space technology ecosystem. Space exploration is not just a frontierit is a passion we embrace wholeheartedly, driving us to push the boundaries of innovation and solidify the UAEs position as a global leader in space science and technology.”
The mission spans 13 years, with a six-year spacecraft development phase followed by a seven-year voyage to the main asteroid belt beyond Mars. The “MBR Explorer” spacecraft will conduct a series of close flybys of seven asteroids, gathering invaluable, data during these encounters and will finally deploy the lander on the seventh asteroid Justitia.
The mission aims to provide a deeper understanding of the characteristics, origins, composition and evolution of asteroids. It seeks to offer a better understanding of the formation of our solar system, explore the water-rich origins of these bodies as a usable resource, and assess the presence of organic and volatile materials within the asteroid belt.
