Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA) — spacecraft "MBR Explorer"

The UAE announced a mission to the main asteroid belt in October 2021, with launch planned for 2028. In May 2023 it was named the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA) and the spacecraft MBR Explorer. The 2023 plan was launch in 2028, a first asteroid encounter in 2030 and a landing on asteroid 269 Justitia in 2034.

The purpose is to study seven main-belt asteroids: close flybys of six (10253 Westerwald, 623 Chimaera, 13294 Rockox, 88055 Ghaf, 23871 Ousha and 59980 Moza) and a rendezvous with Justitia, about 50 km across and unusually red, which may have formed in the outer solar system. The science aims are composition, geology, density and temperature, and what these say about how water and organic material were spread during planet formation.

The UAE Space Agency leads the mission, with half of the work given to UAE private-sector firms and more than 150 engineers and scientists involved. The Technology Innovation Institute (TII) designed, built and tested the lander. The design uses gravity assists at Venus, Earth and Mars over a journey of about 5 billion km and eight years. Flybys pass within about 150 km at up to 33,000 km/h. MBR Explorer carries four instruments: a high-resolution camera, a thermal infrared camera, a mid-wavelength infrared spectrometer and a thermal infrared spectrometer. It will orbit Justitia for about seven months before releasing the lander. The lander descends at 15–27 m/s over two to three hours, and its battery lasts 20–50 minutes after touchdown. Its engineers expect it to act more like an impactor, probably making a small crater.

Key dates: launch services agreement with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for the H3 rocket, 11 Oct 2024; lander agreement January 2025; Critical Design Review 2025; System Integration Review September 2025; assembly, integration and testing begun by April 2026; lander declared flight-ready, 1 Oct 2026.

Setbacks: none reported. The landing date has moved from 2034 (2023 plan) to 2036 (October 2026 reporting); sources do not give a reason.

Next: Etihad Airways flies the lander to Colorado for integration, then environmental tests, final readiness reviews and shipment to Japan. First flyby (Westerwald) is planned for February 2030.

Milestone path

1. October 2021 (month only)

   Asteroid belt mission announced

   Achieved

   The UAE announced a mission to the main asteroid belt, with launch planned for 2028.

   Why it matters: The UAE's next step after the Hope Mars mission, sustaining its deep-space industrial base.

2. May 2023 (month only)

   Mission named; seven asteroids chosen

   Achieved

   The mission was named EMA and the spacecraft MBR Explorer. It will fly past six asteroids and rendezvous with 269 Justitia. Half of the work was set aside for UAE private-sector firms.

   Why it matters: The 50% private-sector share created a pipeline of space work for UAE companies.

3. 11 October 2024

   H3 launch contract with MHI

   Achieved

   The UAE Space Agency signed a launch services agreement with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for the H3 rocket.

   Why it matters: Deepens UAE–Japan space ties after Hope also launched from Japan.

4. January 2025 (month only)

   Lander agreement signed

   Latest

   An agreement was made for the lander, which the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) designed, built and tested.

   Why it matters: Brought a UAE research institute into flight hardware for the first time on this mission.

Milestone path

1. September 2025 (month only)

   System Integration Review passed

   Achieved

   The System Integration Review was completed.

   Why it matters: Cleared the way for assembly and integration of the spacecraft.

2. 2025 (year only)

   Critical Design Review passed

   Achieved

   The mission completed its Critical Design Review.

   Why it matters: Froze the design so building could begin.

3. By April 2026

   Assembly, integration and testing begin

   Achieved

   Assembly, integration and testing of the spacecraft were under way by April 2026, with the mission on track for 2028.

   Why it matters: Moves the programme into the hardware stage, where schedule risk is highest.

4. 1 October 2026

   UAE-built lander declared flight-ready

   Latest

   The lander, built in under two years by about 50 UAE engineers and scientists, passed technical and environmental tests and was shown at an Abu Dhabi press conference. It descends at 15–27 m/s and is expected to act more like an impactor.

   Why it matters: First UAE-built planetary lander; proof of local spacecraft-building skills.

Milestone path

1. 2 November 2026 (latest update)

   Mission confirmed on schedule

   Latest

   The UAE Space Agency said the mission remains on schedule for a first-quarter 2028 launch. The lander is being prepared for transfer to LASP (University of Colorado Boulder) for integration and further testing; Etihad Airways will fly it there. Mission teams presented 10 technical papers at the 2026 International Astronautical Congress.

   Why it matters: the lander's arrival in Colorado and the integrated spacecraft environmental tests; no shipping date published.

2. Q1 2028 (three-week window opening early March 2028)

   Launch on H3 from Japan

   Planned

   MBR Explorer is to launch on an H3 rocket from Japan.

   What to watch: the narrow three-week window; missing it would mean a long delay.

3. February 2030 (month only)

   First asteroid flyby, Westerwald

   Planned

   After gravity assists at Venus and Earth, the spacecraft is to fly past 10253 Westerwald, its first target.

   What to watch: the first science return and proof the spacecraft works in deep space.

4. 2036 (year only)

   Justitia arrival and lander release

   Planned

   The spacecraft is to reach 269 Justitia, orbit it for about seven months, then release the lander. The 2023 plan said 2034; sources give no reason for the change.

   What to watch: the landing, the mission's final and highest-risk event.