Emirates mission to the asteroid belt: Hamdan bin Mohammed attends signing of agreement for launch of 'Mohammed Bin Rashid Explorer'

HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Supreme Space Council, recently attended the signing of an agreement for the launch of the 'Mohammed Bin Rashid Explorer' spacecraft aboard the H3 rocket in 2028. This mission is one of the UAE's largest space ventures. His Highness emphasized that the mission to explore the asteroid belt is a critical milestone in the UAE's ambition to become a key player in the global space race.

Commenting on the event, Sheikh Hamdan stated that the agreement between the UAE Space Agency and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to launch the spacecraft is a strategic move to enhance the UAE's position in space science. He highlighted that investing in the space sector strengthens the UAE’s leadership in science and technology. The Emirates' mission to the asteroid belt is one of the nation's most significant projects, reflecting its vision for a brighter future.

Scheduled for launch in early 2028, this initiative builds on the success of the 'Hope Probe' Mars mission. It represents the third collaboration between the UAE and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, following the KhalifaSat mission in 2018 and the Hope Probe in 2020.

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Explorer will carry four advanced scientific instruments designed to measure the surface composition, geology, temperatures, and other properties of various asteroids to understand their surface evolution.

The mission will span 13 years, with six years dedicated to the spacecraft's development and seven years focused on asteroid exploration. The spacecraft will perform close flybys of multiple asteroids, gathering valuable data. Covering a distance of five billion kilometres, it will utilize gravity assist maneuvers from different planets, including Earth, to optimize its trajectory for the flyby campaign. The first asteroid encounter is expected in February 2030.