UAE Space Agency Achieves Milestone With Critical Design Review For Emirates Mission To Asteroid Belt

The Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA) has reached a pivotal milestone by completing the Critical Design Review (CDR) from February 24 to 26, 2025. This accomplishment involved a team of Emirati and international experts, setting the stage for the next phase, which includes assembling, integrating, and testing the Mohammed Bin Rashid Explorer.

Salem Butti Salem Al Qubaisi, Director-General of the UAE Space Agency, expressed pride in this achievement. "We are truly proud of this achievement. Completing this phase of EMA successfully embodies the UAE’s vision of turning ambitions into realities." He highlighted that the mission marks an advanced step in scientific innovation and strengthens the UAE's role in deep space exploration.

Al Qubaisi further noted that this mission opens new opportunities in technology, education, and economy for future generations. He stressed the importance of developing capabilities in scientific and technical fields within this crucial sector. The CDR assessed all programme aspects, including spacecraft designs, engineering drawings, manufacturing processes, and testing procedures.

The review also included comprehensive testing plans to ensure components can withstand harsh space environments. It evaluated potential risks and developed strategies to manage them while adhering to the mission's timeline. Mohsen Al Awadhi, Mission Director - EMA, emphasised that building capabilities and involving the private sector are key focuses of the mission.

"EMA is more than a journey beyond our planet; it is a bold step toward a future of innovation, scientific excellence, and global leadership in deep space exploration programmes," Al Awadhi stated. He underscored that the critical design review is vital for any space programme's success by verifying system readiness and achieving scientific goals.

The Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt spans 13 years: six years for spacecraft development and design and seven years exploring asteroids between Mars and Jupiter. The Mohammed Bin Rashid Explorer will study water-rich asteroids' origins and evolution and assess their potential as resources for future missions.

Exploration Objectives

The mission will measure surface composition, geology, and internal density of multiple asteroids in the main belt. It will also analyse temperature variations and thermal properties to understand surface evolution over time. The EMA team collaborates with academic partners like Khalifa University and New York University Abu Dhabi.

Additionally, local and international partners from academia and industry contribute to the mission. These include institutions like the Italian Space Agency, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Arizona, and Northern Arizona University. The UAE Space Agency conducted a preliminary design review in February 2024.

Lander Mission Concept

The lander aboard the MBR Explorer is designed to land on Justitia for study. A concept review for this lander was completed in July 2024. Al Awadhi confirmed that positive results from CDR reflect progress in national capabilities and reinforce preparations for launch.

This mission represents a significant step forward in deep space exploration efforts by involving diverse partners globally while focusing on scientific excellence. The successful completion of CDR demonstrates readiness for upcoming phases as part of this ambitious endeavour.

With inputs from WAM