The UAE Space Agency has successfully completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) for the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA), a key step forward in the ambitious deep-space exploration mission. The review, which took place between February 24 and 26, 2025, brought together a group of eminent Emirati and foreign specialists.

After this phase is completed, the project moves on to the assembly, integration, and rigorous testing of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Explorer, the spacecraft that will embark on the journey.

Salem Butti Salem Al Qubaisi, Director-General of the UAE Space Agency, praised the feat, saying, “This success reflects the UAE’s commitment to making aspirations a reality.” 

The CDR included a thorough review of the spacecraft’s design, engineering drawings, production techniques, and operational plans. It also evaluated the spacecraft’s capacity to resist severe conditions in deep space.

Mission Director Mohsen Al Awadhi emphasised the mission’s importance in promoting private sector participation and strengthening national capacities.

The project will last 13 years, with six years for development and seven years to explore the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It will investigate asteroids’ surface composition, thermal properties, and potential as resources for future space missions.