The United Arab Emirates Space Agency prepares to make history with a groundbreaking mission to explore seven asteroids, culminating in a landing on a distant space rock in 2034.
In a bold move that solidifies its position as a rising space power, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is gearing up for an unprecedented mission to the asteroid belt. Set to launch in March 2028, the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA) will embark on a 13-year journey, exploring seven asteroids and attempting a historic landing.
Building on the success of its Mars Hope orbiter, which has been studying the Red Planet since 2021, the UAE Space Agency is pushing the boundaries of space exploration even further. The EMA mission will conduct high-speed flybys of six asteroids before rendezvousing with and orbiting a seventh, 269 Justitia, in 2034.
The spacecraft will be equipped with a suite of advanced instruments, including cameras and spectrometers, to study the composition and properties of these celestial bodies. Of particular interest are the five “C-complex” carbonaceous asteroids targeted by the mission, which could provide crucial insights into the early formation of our solar system.
In a groundbreaking finale, EMA will deploy a small lander onto Justitia, marking the first-ever landing on an asteroid in the main belt. This ambitious endeavor aims to demonstrate proximity operations and gather invaluable data about the asteroid’s surface and internal structure.
The mission is a collaborative effort, with the UAE Space Agency working alongside international partners, including the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulder. The project also involves a consortium of academic and industrial partners within the UAE, fostering the growth of the nation’s space sector.
Beyond its scientific goals, the EMA mission has potential implications for future space resource utilization. By characterizing the composition and distribution of resources on multiple asteroids, the mission could pave the way for future asteroid mining operations.
As the 2028 launch date approaches, the UAE continues to push the boundaries of space exploration, inspiring a new generation of scientists and engineers in the region and around the world. The EMA mission stands as a testament to the nation’s commitment to scientific advancement and its growing role in shaping the future of space exploration.
