Emirates Mission to Asteroid Belt completes critical design review

The Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt announced it has completed its Critical Design Review, which includes a comprehensive assessment the manufacturing process, designs, and testing procedures.

Director-General of the UAE Space Agency, Salem Butti Salem Al Qubaisi, said, “We are truly proud of this achievement. Completing this phase of EMA successfully embodies the UAE’s vision of turning ambitions into realities.”

The CDR includes a comprehensive assessment of all aspects of the programme, covering the 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 involves a thorough performance analysis to ensure the mission's strategic objectives are successfully met.

The review also includes comprehensive testing plans to ensure the readiness of components to operate in the harsh environments of space. It involves an assessment of potential risks and the development of effective strategies to manage them, along with the mission's defined timeline.

Mission Director Mohsen Al Awadhi stressed that the mission primarily focuses on building capabilities and ensuring broad participation of the private sector. "EMA is more than a journey beyond our planet, it is a bold step toward a future of innovation, scientific excellence, and global leadership in deep space exploration programmes,'' he added.

He highlighted that the critical design review is crucial to ensure the success of any space programme, during which the focus is on verifying the readiness of the systems, achieving the desired scientific goals, enhancing coordination between different teams, reducing potential risks, and complying with international standards and regulations.

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Explorer is expected to launch in 2028, studying the origins and evolution of water-rich asteroids, marking the beginning of an extensive exploration within the asteroid belt.