The United Arab Emirates’ spacecraft for a mission to the asteroid belt is ready for launch. The probe was designed, assembled and tested in the UAE in less than two years.
More than 150 engineers and scientists are involved in the mission. The spacecraft is expected to travel approximately 5 billion kilometers through the Solar System and study seven asteroids along the way.
The mission is intended not only to provide new scientific data on small bodies in the Solar System, but also to strengthen the UAE’s domestic capabilities in spacecraft design, assembly and testing.
According to UAE authorities, the country’s space sector is already worth more than 44 billion dirhams ($12 billion). By 2031, the UAE aims to double the economic returns generated by its space economy and become one of the world’s top 10 space economies.
The spacecraft’s readiness marks the completion of a key stage of ground preparations. The next phase will focus on the journey through the Solar System and the sequential exploration of seven asteroids.
