Emirates mission to the asteroid belt complets PDR

Emirates mission to the asteroid belt complets PDR
by Sophie Jenkins
Abu Dhabi UAE (SPX) Feb 26, 2024

The United Arab Emirates Space Agency has successfully completed the critical preliminary design review (CDR) for the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA). This important milestone, achieved between February 19 and 21, marks a significant advancement in the mission's progress, transitioning it into the production phase.

The EMA mission, characterized by a six-year spacecraft design and development phase followed by a seven-year exploration journey, targets the main asteroid belt beyond Mars. It plans to conduct close flybys of seven main belt asteroids, culminating in a landing on Justitia. Named the MBR Explorer, the spacecraft will be equipped with advanced scientific instruments designed to achieve the mission's scientific objectives, including the study of water-rich asteroids and the potential of asteroidal resources for future space missions.

Mohsen Al Awadhi, Mission Director of EMA, revealed that the mission's national team includes graduates from the National Space Academy, highlighting the initiative's role in promoting sustainable national space programs and human development. Al Awadhi also announced collaborations with local companies, such as 971Space and Sadeem Space Solutions, to lead the design of the lander on Justitia. This move aims to bolster the UAE's space sector, advancing local manufacturing and development capabilities while creating opportunities within the private sector.

The mission boasts a consortium of academic and hardware development partners, including Khalifa University, New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), the National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC) at the UAE University, the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), and Yahsat. It also features collaborations with prestigious local and international entities like the Italian Space Agency, the University of Colorado Boulder, and the University of Arizona, showcasing the UAE's commitment to fostering global partnerships in space exploration.

In conjunction with the mission's announcement, the UAE Space Agency hosted the 'Space Means Business' workshop, attracting over 160 participants from the UAE and beyond. This event is part of a series aimed at exploring business opportunities within EMA and the broader global space market, demonstrating the UAE's role as a burgeoning hub for space exploration and commercial space ventures.