UAE to journey into the unknown with yet another space project

The MBR Explorer will explore seven asteroids as part of its mission.

Brace yourselves because we’ve got some seriously out-of-this-world news coming your way. The UAE is about to take exploration to a whole new level. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has announced the launch of the UAE Asteroid Belt Exploration Project. This mission will embark on a seven-year tour of multiple asteroids in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter.

The MBR Explorer – named after Sheikh Mohammed himself – will venture on a five-billion-kilometre journey to explore space. The spaceship will blast off in March 2028 and navigate through the vastness of space using gravity-assist manoeuvres. It’ll swing by Venus, Earth and Mars, using the gravitational pull of each planet to change its speed.

But what’s the main goal of the mission, you ask? The MBR Explorer will explore seven asteroids. Scientists aboard the spaceship want to unlock the secrets of these asteroids such as where they came from, how they evolved and what they’re made of. One of the most extraordinary things they’re focusing on is unravelling the mystery of where Earth and other planets get their water from. By diving deep into water-rich asteroids, these brilliant scientists hope to gain some serious insights into how planets are formed. 

The MBR Explorer is leaving no asteroid unturned because this epic adventure is also on a quest to figure out if asteroids can be helpful in future space missions. The celestial rocks might hold valuable resources that scientists can tap into. They’re going to dig into the composition, geology and even the interior density of these space rocks and all the data they collect will be shared with the global scientific community.

To achieve the mission’s goals, the MBR Explorer will carry four scientific instruments, including a high-resolution camera, a thermal infrared camera, a mid-wavelength spectrometer, and an infrared spectrometer. These cutting-edge instruments will enable detailed observations of the asteroids, facilitating a deeper understanding of their characteristics and properties.

Emphasising the significance of this scientific endeavour, Sheikh Mohammed highlighted that the UAE’s mission to the asteroid belt will not only spearhead advancements in space science and technology but also pave the way for the establishment of specialised Emirati companies in the field. 

The UAE is all about pushing boundaries and fostering innovation, and this project is just another testament to its unwavering commitment. So buckle up, folks, because the UAE is taking us on a wild cosmic ride and we’re all in for a front-row seat to witness history in the making.

GO: Visit https://space.gov.ae for more information.