Abu Dhabi: The Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA) has reached a significant milestone by successfully completing the Critical Design Review (CDR) between February 24 and 26, 2025. This achievement was made with the participation of a distinguished group of Emirati and international experts, paving the way for the next phase, which includes the assembly, integration, and testing of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Explorer.
According to Emirates News Agency, Salem Butti Salem Al Qubaisi, Director-General of the UAE Space Agency, expressed pride in this accomplishment, stating that it embodies the UAE’s vision of turning ambitions into realities. Al Qubaisi emphasized that the mission represents an advanced step in the UAE’s journey of scientific innovation, contributing to its position in deep space exploration and opening promising horizons in technology, education, and economy.
The CDR conducted a comprehensive assessment of all aspects of the programme, covering detailed designs of the spacecraft and its subsystems, precise engineering drawings, manufacturing processes, comprehensive plans, as well as assembly, integration, and testing procedures. Additionally, it involved a thorough performance analysis to ensure the mission’s strategic objectives are successfully met.
The review also included comprehensive testing plans to ensure component readiness for the harsh environments of space. An assessment of potential risks and the development of effective strategies to manage them were also part of the review, along with the mission’s defined timeline.
Mohsen Al Awadhi, Mission Director – EMA, highlighted the mission’s primary focus on building capabilities and ensuring broad private sector participation. He stressed that EMA is more than a journey beyond Earth, representing a bold step toward innovation, scientific excellence, and global leadership in deep space exploration programmes.
The Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt spans 13 years, with six years dedicated to the development and design of the spacecraft and seven years for exploring the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. During this period, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Explorer will study the origins and evolution of water-rich asteroids and assess their potential as resources for future space exploration missions.
The mission will contribute to measuring the surface composition, geology, and internal density of multiple asteroids in the main asteroid belt. It will also analyse temperature variations and thermal physical properties of various asteroids to assess their surface evolution and historical development.
In collaboration with academic partners like Khalifa University, New York University Abu Dhabi, and the Technology Innovation Institute, the UAE Space Agency is working with local and international partners, including the Italian Space Agency, the University of Colorado Boulder, the University of Arizona, and Northern Arizona University.
The UAE Space Agency previously conducted a preliminary design review for the mission in February 2024 and completed the lander mission concept review in July 2024. The lander aboard the MBR Explorer is designed to land on and study Justitia.
