The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to launch its Mohammed Bin Rashid (MBR) Explorer spacecraft to the asteroid belt aboard Japan's H3 rocket in early 2028. This mission follows an agreement between the UAE Space Agency and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktum, Crown Prince of Dubai, emphasized that this mission marks a significant step for the UAE in becoming a key player in space science. He stated that the mission to explore Venus and the asteroid belt is a critical milestone in their journey of space exploration, driven by the talent and dedication of Emiratis.
The MBR Explorer mission is based on the success of the Hope Probe Mars mission and represents the third collaboration between the UAE and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, following the launches of KhalifaSat in 2018 and Hope Probe in 2020.
The mission will span 13 years, with six years dedicated to spacecraft development and seven years for studying the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The MBR Explorer will conduct close flybys of six asteroids and will land on the seventh, Justitia, gathering scientific data.
Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, UAE Minister of Sports and Chairman of the UAE Space Agency, noted that this mission aligns with their strategy to foster strong local and global partnerships while stimulating investments in the growing space sector. The first encounter with an asteroid is expected in February 2030, marking the beginning of extensive research of the asteroid belt.
The MBR Explorer is equipped with four advanced scientific instruments, including an optical camera, mid-wave infrared spectrometer, thermal infrared spectrometer, and infrared camera, which will measure surface composition, geology, density, temperature, and thermal properties of various asteroids to assess their evolutionary stages and origins.