MBR Explorer
The MBR Explorer is a planned UAESA space probe designed to journey to seven different main belt asteroids. Proposed under the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt, it is named in recognition of the foundational role driving the creation and growth of the UAE Space Program played by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the vice president and the prime minister of the United Arab Emirates. The mission to explore the asteroid belt was announced by the UAE Space Agency in May 2023, and the launch is planned for March 2028. Similarly to their previous Mars mission, the MBR Explorer will launch from Tanegashima Space Center, this time on an H3 Launch Vehicle. The spacecraft will weigh around 2.8 tonnes and will travel at an average speed of 33,000 km/h. The MBR Explorer will visit asteroids 10253 Westerwald, 623 Chimaera, 13294 Rockox, 88055 Ghaf, 23871 Ousha, and 59980 Moza during a 5-billion-kilometre total journey, and will attempt to orbit its seventh and final asteroid, 269 Justitia in 2034. The spacecraft will additionally drop off a small lander to set down on Justitia's surface. At the time when MBR Explorer was proposed, Ghaf (2000 VA28), Ousha (1998 RC76), and Moza (1999 SG6) were unnamed and were known by their provisional designations. All three of these asteroids were officially named on 13 October 2025.
| Mission type | Asteroid multiple-flyby/orbiter/lander |
|---|---|
| Operator | Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre |
| Mission duration | Flyby phase: 8.5 years Orbiter phase: 7 months |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | March 2028 |
| Rocket | H3 |
| Launch site | Tanegashima, LA-Y2 |
| Contractor | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries |
| Flyby of Venus (gravity assist) | |
| Closest approach | July 2028[1] |
| Flyby of Earth (gravity assist) | |
| Closest approach | May 2029 |
| Flyby of 10253 Westerwald | |
| Closest approach | February 2030 |
| Flyby of 623 Chimaera | |
| Closest approach | June 2030 |
| Flyby of 13294 Rockox | |
| Closest approach | January 2031 |
| Flyby of Mars (gravity assist) | |
| Closest approach | September 2031 |
| Flyby of 88055 Ghaf | |
| Closest approach | July 2032 |
| Flyby of 23871 Ousha | |
| Closest approach | December 2032 |
| Flyby of 59980 Moza[a] | |
| Closest approach | August 2033 |
| 269 Justitia orbiter | |
| Orbital insertion | October 2034 |
| 269 Justitia lander | |
| Landing date | May 2035 |
The MBR Explorer is a planned UAESA space probe designed to journey to seven different main belt asteroids.[2][3] Proposed under the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt, it is named in recognition of the foundational role driving the creation and growth of the UAE Space Program played by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the vice president and the prime minister of the United Arab Emirates.[4]
The mission to explore the asteroid belt was announced by the UAE Space Agency in May 2023, and the launch is planned for March 2028.[1][5][6] Similarly to their previous Mars mission, the MBR Explorer will launch from Tanegashima Space Center, this time on an H3 Launch Vehicle.[7]
The spacecraft will weigh around 2.8 tonnes and will travel at an average speed of 33,000 km/h.[8]
The MBR Explorer will visit asteroids 10253 Westerwald, 623 Chimaera, 13294 Rockox, 88055 Ghaf, 23871 Ousha, and 59980 Moza[a] during a 5-billion-kilometre total journey,[4][11] and will attempt to orbit its seventh and final asteroid, 269 Justitia in 2034.[8] The spacecraft will additionally drop off a small lander to set down on Justitia's surface.[5]
At the time when MBR Explorer was proposed, Ghaf (2000 VA28), Ousha (1998 RC76), and Moza (1999 SG6) were unnamed and were known by their provisional designations.[4] All three of these asteroids were officially named on 13 October 2025.[9][10]
See also
[edit]- List of minor planets and comets visited by spacecraft
- Lucy, an ongoing NASA mission that will similarly fly by various Jupiter trojans.
- DESTINY+, a planned JAXA mission that may fly past multiple near-Earth asteroids.
Notes
[edit]- ^ a b The name "Moza" was mistakenly given to asteroid (59880) 1999 RS119 on 13 October 2025,[9] but was swiftly corrected on the same date.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Foust, Jeff (3 June 2023). "UAE outlines plans for asteroid mission". SpaceNews. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ "UAE announces space mission to land MBR Explorer on asteroid 5 billion kilometres away". Arabian Business. 29 May 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
- ^ "Touring Through the Asteroid Belt: United Arab Emirates Unveils Bold Mission". SpaceRef. 29 May 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
- ^ a b c "Arabian spacecraft to search asteroid belt for clues to life's origins". ABC News. 2023-05-30. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
- ^ a b Kenneth Chang (May 29, 2023). "The United Arab Emirates Is Heading for the Asteroid Belt". The New York Times.
- ^ Sarwat Nasir (May 29, 2023). "MBR Explorer: UAE unveils details of its mission to the main asteroid belt". The National. Abu Dhabi.
- ^ Foust, Jeff (2024-10-10). "Japan's H3 to launch Emirati asteroid mission". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
- ^ a b "MBR Explorer: All about UAE's new space mission to Asteroid Belt". Gulf News. 2023-05-29. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
- ^ a b "WGSBN Bulletin 5, #23" (PDF). WGSBN Bulletin. 5 (23). International Astronomical Union. 13 October 2025. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
- ^ a b "WGSBN Bulletin 5, #24" (PDF). WGSBN Bulletin. 5 (24). International Astronomical Union. 13 October 2025. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
- ^ "Ambitious Emirati Mission Seeks to Visit 7 Asteroids and Land on the Big Red One". Gizmodo. 2023-05-10. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
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