Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre

Hello! We are the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, or MBRSC. We are the organization that leads the United Arab Emirates’ space program. Our story began in 2006, when we were first established in the city of Dubai. At that time, we were known by a different name: the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology, or EIAST. From our earliest days, our purpose has been clear. We were created to help advance the fields of science and technology throughout the UAE. A key part of our mission is to help build what is known as a knowledge-based economy, which means creating value and opportunities through innovation, research, and education rather than just physical goods. Ultimately, we hope our work inspires future generations of scientists, engineers, and explorers to dream big and reach for the stars.

Our journey into space exploration began not with astronauts or distant planets, but with satellites orbiting our own Earth. To build our skills, we started with Earth-observation satellites. This type of satellite is designed to look down at our planet, gathering important data about weather, land use, and environmental changes. Our first major project was DubaiSat-1. To make it happen, we worked closely with international partners who shared their expertise with us. The successful launch of DubaiSat-1 in 2009 was a huge achievement and a critical learning experience for our engineers. It gave them the hands-on experience and confidence they needed for our next steps. Building on that success, our Emirati team took on a new challenge: to design and build a satellite entirely within the UAE. In 2018, they accomplished this goal with the launch of KhalifaSat. These projects were more than just successful missions; they were essential stepping stones that methodically prepared us for more complex and ambitious missions throughout the solar system.

After proving our capabilities with satellites, we set our sights on our next major goal: sending humans to space. To achieve this, we created the UAE Astronaut Programme, a dedicated initiative to select, train, and support Emirati astronauts for missions to space. The entire nation celebrated a historic milestone in 2019 when one of our own, Hazzaa Al Mansoori, became the first Emirati astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS). His journey was a powerful symbol of our country's growing ambitions in space. A few years later, in 2023, we marked another incredible achievement with astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi. He completed a six-month mission aboard the ISS, which was the longest space mission ever undertaken by an Arab astronaut. During his time in orbit, he was responsible for conducting a wide range of important scientific experiments. He also made history when he stepped outside the station, becoming the first Arab to perform a spacewalk.

While our astronauts were making history in Earth's orbit, we were also planning our first journey to another world. Our most ambitious project to date has been the Emirates Mars Mission. The goal was to design, build, and send a robotic spacecraft all the way to the Red Planet. We developed an advanced orbiter that we named the Hope Probe, or 'Al Amal' in Arabic. Its specific scientific mission is to study the climate of Mars, gathering detailed information about its atmosphere from orbit. We want to understand how Mars lost most of its air and water over billions of years. After launching from Earth in 2020, the Hope Probe traveled millions of kilometers through space. In February 2021, it successfully entered Mars' orbit, a complex and challenging maneuver that required perfect timing and precision. This incredible success made the UAE the fifth nation in history to reach Mars. The probe continues its mission today, collecting valuable data that we share with scientists and research institutions all over the world to help humanity better understand our planetary neighbor.

Our work is far from over; in fact, we believe we are just getting started. As we continue to operate our successful satellite and Mars missions, we are always looking toward the future of space exploration. Our next destination is the Moon. We are currently developing a lunar rover named Rashid as part of our Emirates Lunar Mission. This robotic explorer is designed to travel across the Moon's surface, studying its soil and geology. Beyond the Moon, we have even bigger long-term plans. We have established the Mars 2117 project, an ambitious, century-long program with the ultimate goal of establishing the first human settlement on Mars. This vision will require incredible advances in science, engineering, and human ingenuity. Through these bold future missions, we continue our work to push the boundaries of science and exploration, contributing to a brighter future for our country and for the entire world.