UAE Space Agency said it has signed an agreement with Technology Innovation Institute (TII) to design and develop the EMA Lander which is set to be aboard the MBR Explorer, and will be deployed to study the 7th asteroid Justitia, as part of the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA).  

 

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, unprecedented data during these encounters, and will finally deploy the lander on the seventh asteroid “Justitia”.

 

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.

 

This comes in line with the mission’s 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, it stated.

 

The agreement was signed by Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, the Minister of Sports and Chairman of the UAE Space Agency, and Faisal Al Bannai, the Secretary-General of the Advanced Technology Research Council in the presence of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy PM and Minister of Defence of UAE, and Chairman of Supreme Space Council. 

 

The TII 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, said Mohsen Al Awadhi, Director of the EMA. 

 

"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," he added.

 

On the key partnership, Dr Najwa Aaraj, the CEO at the Technology Innovation Institute, said: "We are honored 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 UAE’s pioneering efforts in interplanetary exploration and the cultivation of a thriving space technology ecosystem. Space exploration is not just a frontier—it is a passion we embrace wholeheartedly, driving us to push the boundaries of innovation and solidify the UAE’s position as a global leader in space science and technology," she added.-TradeArabia News Service