Dubai:H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, witnessed the unveiling of a UAE-developed space probe for the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt. This initiative marks the UAE's second interplanetary mission, involving a 5 billion km journey to explore seven asteroids, culminating at 269 Justitia.
According to Emirates News Agency, the probe, developed, assembled, and tested in the UAE, reached the flight readiness stage in under two years. It will be carried aboard the MBR Explorer spacecraft. Sheikh Hamdan praised the efforts of over 150 engineers and scientists involved in the project, emphasizing the capabilities of Emirati talent and the nation's integrated space ecosystem.
The UAE Space Agency leads and funds the mission, working with national and international partners. The probe's development involved collaboration with entities like the Technology Innovation Institute, HEX20, Khalifa University, and the National Space Science and Technology Center.
Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports and Chairman of the UAE Space Agency, highlighted the probe's readiness as a testament to the UAE's advancing space capabilities. Faisal Al Bannai, Advisor to the UAE President, noted the importance of transforming advanced research into practical engineering for the mission.
The probe is set to be integrated with the MBR Explorer at the University of Colorado Boulder and launched from Japan in early 2028. Its mission will provide insights into the formation of planets by studying the asteroid 269 Justitia, potentially revealing details about the distribution of water and organic materials in the early Solar System. The UAE continues to expand its space sector, with investments exceeding AED44 billion and ambitious goals set for 2031.