Etihad Cargo completes probe shipment to US ready for UAE space missionThrough the air and destined for space, Etihad Cargo has completed the shipment of a probe developed for the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA) that has now arrived in the United States.
Through the air and destined for space, Etihad Cargo has completed the shipment of a probe developed for the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA) that has now arrived in the United States.
The probe was transported from Abu Dhabi to Colorado with the support of Etihad Cargo, the cargo arm of Etihad Airways.
The UAE Space Agency leads the EMA: funding the mission and overseeing its delivery in collaboration with a network of national and international partners.
Delivering the probe to the United States is another example of how Etihad Cargo enables the safe and reliable transport of highly specialised cargo around the world.
Etihad Cargo completes probe shipment to US ready for UAE space mission
Through the air and destined for space, Etihad Cargo has completed the shipment of a probe developed for the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA) that has now arrived in the United States.
The shipment follows the successful completion of the probe’s design, development, assembly and testing in the UAE. Its arrival in the United States marks an the next step in the mission’s preparations, as the probe is now ready for final integration with the MBR Explorer spacecraft, ahead of the mission’s planned launch from Japan in the first quarter of 2028.
The Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt will travel approximately five billion kilometres to explore seven asteroids and ultimately reach 269 Justitia, where the probe will separate from MBR Explorer in the final phase of the mission and operate autonomously as it approaches the asteroid’s surface, capturing detailed images to help scientists study its characteristics.
Through the air and destined for space, Etihad Cargo has completed the shipment of a probe developed for the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA) that has now arrived in the United States.
The probe was transported from Abu Dhabi to Colorado with the support of Etihad Cargo, the cargo arm of Etihad Airways.
The shipment follows the successful completion of the probe’s design, development, assembly and testing in the UAE. Its arrival in the United States marks an the next step in the mission’s preparations, as the probe is now ready for final integration with the MBR Explorer spacecraft, ahead of the mission’s planned launch from Japan in the first quarter of 2028.
The Technology Innovation Institute (TII), through its Propulsion and Space Research Centres probe will image two planets and seven asteroids, flying past six asteroids in the main belt before culminating in a rendezvous with and landing on the seventh, 269 Justitia. If successful, the landing will make Justitia only the seventh asteroid in history to be reached on the surface by the probe.
“The MBR Explorer spacecraft will travel approximately 5 billion kilometers over eight years, using gravity-assist maneuvers at Venus, Earth and Mars, and conducting close encounters with six asteroids before arriving at 269 Justitia. The spacecraft is scheduled to launch from Japan in March 2028 within a narrow three-week launch window aligned to interplanetary conditions. Because the spacecraft itself cannot safely approach within a few kilometers of the surface, the probe will separate, make contact with the surface, and deliver the mission’s closest observations,” Dr. Najwa Aaraj, Chief Executive Officer, TII, said.
The UAE Space Agency leads the EMA: funding the mission and overseeing its delivery in collaboration with a network of national and international partners.
“The probe’s transfer from Abu Dhabi to the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado marks an important transition for EMA, from development, assembly and testing in the UAE to final integration with the MBR Explorer spacecraft and the verification of their systems’ integration before launch. Developing the probe and reaching flight readiness in less than two years reflects the technical capability of the mission team and the importance of integrated efforts between national institutions and technical partners in delivering space missions of this complexity. The coordination with Etihad Cargo to transport the probe forms part of these efforts as we prepare for the mission’s next stages, ahead of its planned launch in the first quarter of 2028,” Eng Mohsen Al Awadhi, Mission Director of the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt, said.
Following eight months of close coordination with all relevant parties, Etihad Cargo transported the probe as a specialised shipment from Abu Dhabi to Chicago on 2 November 2026. The probe safely arrived in Colorado on 5 November. Engineers, researchers, flight specialists and the mission team from across Etihad, the UAE Space Agency and TII were present in Abu Dhabi as the probe was prepared for departure.
Countdown to take-off
“The Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt reflects the UAE’s ambition to push the boundaries of science, technology and innovation. Delivering the probe to the United States is another example of how Etihad Cargo enables the safe and reliable transport of highly specialised cargo around the world. As the UAE’s national carrier, we are proud to have played our part in connecting this pioneering mission with its next stage and supporting an initiative that showcases the UAE’s growing leadership in advanced technology and space exploration,” Stanislas Brun, Chief Cargo Officer at Etihad Airways, said.
The Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt will travel approximately five billion kilometres to explore seven asteroids and ultimately reach 269 Justitia, where the probe will separate from MBR Explorer in the final phase of the mission and operate autonomously as it approaches the asteroid’s surface, capturing detailed images to help scientists study its characteristics.
“Taking this probe from design through building, assembling and testing in the UAE is a proud significant achievement for our team. In Colorado, the focus now shifts to integrating it with MBR Explorer and verifying that their hardware, software and communications systems work together as intended,” Dr. Anton Ivanov, Principal Investigator and Executive Director, Propulsion and Space Research Center, TII, said.
EMA is the UAE’s second interplanetary mission and the first in which the spacecraft element has been designed, engineered, assembled and tested within the country. The mission sits within a broader national commitment to the sector. In May 2026, the Supreme Space Council approved a AED 1 billion International Space Cooperation Program intended to connect UAE research institutions with counterparts internationally, localize advanced space technologies, and develop Emirati talent, in support of the National Space Strategy 2031.
On arrival, the MBR spacecraft will spend approximately seven months in orbit around Justitia, beginning at 250 kilometers and descending through a series of lower orbits. The probe will deploy during a low-altitude pass in early 2036, then descend and make contact with the surface, imaging continuously and transmitting to the spacecraft above. The subsequent images will then allow scientists to study material beneath the surface layer that cannot be characterized from orbit.
“The engineering challenge is not simply reaching Justitia, but ensuring the probe can survive an eight-year journey and still perform precisely when it matters most. Every element – from the hardware and thermal design to the onboard software – has been engineered and tested for that final encounter,” Dr. Elias Tsoutsanis, Chief Researcher, Propulsion and Space Research Center, TII concluded.
