UAE Space Agency signs agreement with Technology Innovation Institute

The EMA Lander will be aboard the MBR Explorer, and will be deployed to study the 7th asteroid Justitia, as part of the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA). 

Under this agreement, TII will lead the design, development and testing phases of the lander, as well as providing opportunities for startups’ participation in the development of the project, in line with the mission’s commitment of allocating 50% of the project to UAE based companies, as it aims to create substantial economic opportunities, spur Emirati startups, and attract international partnerships.

“The Technology Innovation Institute was selected due to their vast expertise and technical capabilities in the field of advanced technology, which will be a great asset in promoting the mission's success. This selection also reflects our keenness to leverage the best national expertise and capabilities to achieve our future objectives and execute sophisticated space projects in line with the highest international standards. EMA is progressing according to the schedule, and we will work together with our partners to ensure the success of the mission, develop a sustainable and integrated ecosystem in our national space sector, and consolidate the UAE's position as a leading country in this vital sector,” said Mohsen Al Awadhi, Director of the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt.

"This groundbreaking collaboration underscores the UAE’s pioneering efforts in interplanetary exploration and the cultivation of a thriving space technology ecosystem. Space exploration is not just a frontier—it is a passion we embrace wholeheartedly, driving us to push the boundaries of innovation and solidify the UAE’s position as a global leader in space science and technology” said Dr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO at the Technology Innovation Institute.

The mission spans 13 years, with a six-year spacecraft development phase followed by a seven-year voyage to the main asteroid belt beyond Mars. The "MBR Explorer" spacecraft will conduct a series of close flybys of seven asteroids, gathering invaluable, unprecedented data during these encounters, and will finally deploy the lander on the seventh asteroid “Justitia”.