Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA)

May 31, 2023

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) continues to make significant strides in space exploration, as it unveils its ambitious plans to send a spacecraft to the asteroid belt. This latest project, known as the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt, follows the UAE’s successful entry into Mars’ orbit with the Hope probe in February 2021.

Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt

The spacecraft that the UAE intends to send to the asteroid belt is aptly named the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt. This project aims to develop a spacecraft in the coming years and launch it in 2028, with the primary objective of studying seven different asteroids within the asteroid belt.

Exploring the Red Asteroid

One of the asteroids that the spacecraft will land on is a rare “red” asteroid called Justitia. Scientists believe that this asteroid may potentially hold significant insights into the building blocks of life on Earth. The mission’s landing craft will study the surface of Justitia, which is thought to be laden with organic substances. Understanding the origin and composition of these organic compounds could provide valuable insights into the origins of life on our planet.

The Speed and Distance of the Mission

During its journey to the asteroids, the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt will soar at an impressive speed of 33,000 kilometers per hour. It is projected to cover a total distance of approximately 5 billion kilometers, a testament to the UAE’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of space exploration.

Timeline of the Mission

The spacecraft is set to reach the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter in the year 2030. Once there, it will conduct flybys of six asteroids, gathering crucial data and expanding our understanding of these celestial bodies. In 2034, after completing the flybys, the spacecraft will deploy a lander on the seventh and final asteroid, Justitia.

MBR Explorer and Venus’s Gravitational Pull

The UAE’s explorer spacecraft, named MBR after Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, will embark on an intricate trajectory. It will first make its way toward Venus, utilizing the planet’s gravitational pull to gain a speed boost. This slingshot maneuver will propel the spacecraft back past Earth and towards Mars, setting it on course for the asteroid belt.

UAE’s Long-Term Mars Goal

The Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt represents a significant milestone for the UAE Space Agency, which was established in 2014. Building on the success of the Mars mission, the UAE has set an ambitious long-term goal: to establish a colony on Mars by the year 2117. The knowledge gained from exploring the asteroid belt and other space missions will contribute to the eventual realization of this grand vision.

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