The UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan witnessed the signing of a pivotal agreement for the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt, aiming to enhance space exploration and innovation.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence for the UAE, Chairman of the Supreme Space Council, was present for the signing of an agreement focused on the development of the lander for the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA).
The agreement was executed by His Excellency Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, UAE minister of Sports and Chairman of the UAE Space Agency, alongside His Excellency Faisal Al Bannai, adviser to the UAE President for Strategic Research and Advanced Technology Affairs, who also represents the Technology Innovation Institute (TII).
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Vision for UAE’s space exploration
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan remarked: “The agreement signed to develop the EMA lander, which is designed to study ‘Justitia,’ highlights the spirit of cooperation between various UAE organisations and institutions, and embodies our philosophy of transforming challenges into opportunities, to build a bright future led by knowledge.”
He further noted: “The UAE’s space exploration journey follows the leadership’s vision to make the UAE a global hub for innovation and advanced technology, and a leader in the global space sector.
Commitment to innovation and talent
“Our achievements in the space sector reflect our relentless ambition to promote the UAE’s competitiveness through pioneering steps that combine ambitious vision and scientific innovation. Today, we are leaving an Emirati mark on the space exploration journey, and we affirm our commitment to continue supporting promising Emirati talents, besides encouraging the private sector to be a strategic partner in our future endeavours.” H.H. added.
This mission supports our ambition to transform our dreams into achievements that contribute to the advancement of humanity. We believe that this will inspire future generations in the UAE to achieve the impossible and explore new horizons,” Sheikh Hamdan emphasized.
Role of TII in the mission
The UAE Space Agency has chosen TII to spearhead the development and execution of the lander, which will be aboard the MBR Explorer. Specifically designed to study Justitia, the seventh and final asteroid of the mission, the lander forms a key component of the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt. This agreement aligns with the UAE Space Agency’s strategy to empower the private sector and startups, generating business opportunities by creating new areas of expertise for Emirati and international startups operating within the UAE, with a goal of allocating 50 percent of the mission to private sector companies.
Strategic objectives of the mission
Furthermore, TII will take the lead in the design, development, and testing phases of the lander, offering opportunities for startups to engage in various aspects of the programme, in accordance with the mission’s strategic objectives. The lander will be developed within the UAE, actively involving several academic institutions.
Selection process for TII
TII was selected for this project following the Mission Concept Review (MCR) of the lander, which was conducted by two UAE-based startup companies, 971Space and SADEEM Space Solutions. TII’s substantial technical expertise positioned it as the ideal candidate to lead the development of the EMA lander project.
Timeline of the EMA mission
The EMA mission is set to span 13 years, including a six-year spacecraft development phase, followed by a seven-year journey to the Main Asteroid Belt beyond Mars. The MBR Explorer will perform a series of close flybys of seven asteroids, collecting invaluable and unprecedented data during these encounters, before ultimately deploying the lander to the seventh asteroid, Justitia.
