About The Mission
Introducing the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA), a pioneering venture that aims to explore and study multiple asteroids within the main belt. It is not only a scientific mission but also a significant opportunity for business development in the UAE.
EMA seeks to enhance our understanding of the formation and composition of the solar system, shedding light on the origins and presence of the fundamental building blocks of life within the asteroid belt. Moreover, the mission paves the way for potential future resource extraction from these celestial bodies.
With a commitment to fostering local participation, EMA has allocated 50% of the project's work to UAE-based private sector companies. This strategic approach is expected to generate substantial economic opportunities, stimulate the growth of new Emirati startups, foster international partnerships, and attract investments to the UAE's burgeoning space sector. The near-$1 billion UAE Space Fund supports this groundbreaking mission.
Spanning a remarkable thirteen-year timeline, the mission consists of a six-year spacecraft development phase followed by a seven-year flight to the main asteroid belt, located beyond Mars. During the mission, the spacecraft, named "MBR Explorer," will conduct a series of close flybys to observe and study seven main belt asteroids. These close encounters will provide unique insights and invaluable data.
The MBR Explorer is scheduled to launch in March 2028, within a three-week launch window. It will embark on an extraordinary 5-billion-kilometer journey, utilizing gravity-assist maneuvers around Venus, Earth, and Mars to modify its velocity and facilitate the flyby campaign. The first asteroid encounter is expected to occur in February 2030, marking the initiation of an extensive exploration and scientific endeavor within the asteroid belt.
Strategic Objectives
• Leverage UAE private sector
• Train and prepare UAE capabilities
• Establish international partnerships
• Develop academic engineering and scientific programs
• Transfer knowledge and know-how
Mission Implementation Goals
• Design a unique mission and should aim for advances in fundamental science and demonstrations of technology
• Educate through outreach programs
• Sustain the UAE's outer space exploration program
• Contribute through UAE engineers and scientists
• Develop the science and technology commercial sector
• Create sustainable science and technology initiatives
Science Objectives
• Understand the origins and evolution of water-rich asteroid
• Assess the resource potential of asteroids
• Prepare the way for future asteroid resource use
Click here for more information on the Scientific Objectives of the Mission:
