UAE Space Agency Signs Landmark Agreement with Mitsubishi for 2028 Asteroid Belt Mission

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Supreme Space Council, oversaw the signing of an agreement between the UAE Space Agency and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

The agreement paves the way for the launch of the “Mohammed Bin Rashid Explorer” aboard the H3 rocket in 2028, as part of the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt.

Sheikh Hamdan emphasized the significance of this mission in advancing the UAE's role in global space science. He noted that the UAE’s investment in space exploration, supported by visionary leadership, aims to build a future centered on innovation and knowledge.

The mission, one of the UAE’s largest space initiatives, seeks to explore the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, with the spacecraft set to perform close flybys of six asteroids before landing on the seventh, Justitia. The “Mohammed Bin Rashid Explorer” will be equipped with four scientific instruments to study surface composition, geology, and thermophysical properties of asteroids, advancing the understanding of their origins.

This agreement marks the third collaboration between the UAE and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, following the successful launches of “KhalifaSat” and the “Hope Probe.” The mission, a 13-year journey, will span 5 billion kilometers, with the first asteroid encounter expected in 2030.

The UAE continues to strengthen international partnerships, with contributions from institutions such as Khalifa University, the Italian Space Agency, and the University of Colorado, ensuring that the UAE remains a key player in the future of space exploration.

News Source: Emirates News Agency