The Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA) has successfully completed its Critical Design Review (CDR), marking a significant step toward deep space exploration.
Held from February 24 to 26, 2025, the review involved Emirati and international experts, validating the mission’s readiness for the next phase—assembly, integration, and testing of the Mohammed Bin Rashid (MBR) Explorer.
Salem Butti Salem Al Qubaisi, Director-General of the UAE Space Agency, emphasized that this milestone reflects the UAE’s vision of transforming ambition into reality. He highlighted the mission’s role in advancing scientific innovation, strengthening deep space exploration capabilities, and fostering growth in technology, education, and the economy.
The CDR encompassed a comprehensive assessment of the spacecraft’s design, engineering, manufacturing, and risk mitigation strategies, ensuring alignment with international space exploration standards. Mohsen Al Awadhi, EMA Mission Director, underscored the review’s significance in enhancing system readiness, minimizing risks, and securing broad participation from the private sector.
Spanning 13 years, EMA dedicates six years to spacecraft development and seven years to asteroid exploration between Mars and Jupiter. The MBR Explorer will analyze the origins of water-rich asteroids, assess their resource potential, and study their surface and internal structures. A lander aboard the spacecraft is set to touch down on Justitia, furthering scientific discovery.
The UAE Space Agency is collaborating with esteemed institutions, including Khalifa University, NYU Abu Dhabi, the Italian Space Agency, and the University of Colorado Boulder. With strong international partnerships and rigorous planning, EMA continues to propel the UAE’s space ambitions toward groundbreaking discoveries in deep space.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
