The United Arab Emirates plans to send the first Emirati and Arab astronaut to the lunar orbit space project

The United Arab Emirates is soon to be a part of the global project Which is to build and launch the very first lunar space station to move around the Moon. The space engineers of the country will build an airlock named ‘Crew and Science’ which will be 10-tonne in weight. This airlock space is going to serve as the point of entry and exit for the astronauts at the Lunar Gateway. 

The two beginner modules of this compact multi-proposal outpost will be orbiting the Moon and will likely launch in 2025. At the same time, The Emirates Module is most likely to be launched by 2030.

As a part of this remarkable project the United Arab Emirates will also send the very first Arab and Emirati astronaut to the lunar orbit. The agreement has been signed between NASA and MBRSC or Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre. The agreement equally confirms that an astronaut from the United Arab Emirates will fly to the lunar space station on a future Artemis mission.

According to the Crown Prince Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum the “journey to the Moon” will be happening upon the compilation of the project in 2030.

A Built Airlock by the United Arab Emirates

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre or MBRSC will be in charge of designing, developing, and operating the Emirates Airlock. Emirates Airlock is a major and critical component. This 10X4 metre long unit serves as both an entry and exit point using which all the supplies and astronauts will enter and exit the lunar space station.

This gateway of Emirati airlock will provide a secure home for the astronauts to stay and work. It will equally serve as a direct point for all the ongoing lunar surface missions. Additionally, the lunar station will be in control of conducting various spacewalks while rounding around the Moon.

Gateway will provide a home for astronauts to live and work. It will serve as a staging point for lunar surface missions, and an opportunity to conduct spacewalks while orbiting the Moon.

As stated by NASA, In addition to the operation of the airlock, The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre or MBRSC will equally provide technical support for the existing life of the lunar space station. NASA said, “The airlock will allow crew and science research transfers to and from the habitable environment of Gateway’s pressurized crew modules to the vacuum of space. These transfers will support broader science in the deep space environment, as well as Gateway maintenance.”

First Emirati Astronauts to the Moon

The United Arab Emirates has four astronauts ready for this mission. Sultan Al Neyadi and Hazzaa Al Mansoori already have experience as they have flown to space previously. At the same time, Nora Al Matrooshi and Mohammed Al Mulla are undergoing related training at the Johnson Space Centre of NASA in Houston.

The coming collaboration between NASA and the United Arab Emirates builds on the collaboration of human space flight mission conducted previously. Back in 2019, Hazzaa Al Mansoori was recognised as the first Emirati astronaut to fly to space due to a short mission to fulfil at the International Space Station. Equally, Sultan Al Neyadi was launched at the space station for a long six-month mission in 2023.

Sultan Al Neyadi said, “‘We want to go to the Moon were my first words after returning to Earth, This ambition has turned into a project with the development of the airlock on the Lunar Gateway and preparations for the first Arab astronaut mission to the Moon. My colleagues and I are ready.”

Getting Moon-ready

The United Arab Emirates has two major facilities to establish for a seamless mission experience, which includes training the astronauts at the very first stage and another one to serve as a centre of operation for the lunar space station.

The United Arab Emirates joins the United States, Canada, Japan, and the European Union, and will set up the Lunar Gateway station of NASA.

While announcing the contribution by the United Arab Emirates to this lunar space station mission, the president of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said the United Arab Emirates is determined to work alongside their multinational partners, and that will equally enable collective progress for all the countries.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and the Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said, once after launching the lunar space station, tra station will help the human to return back to the Moon. He confirmed by saying, “Work will begin immediately. The UAE will be part of the project that represents one of humanity’s greatest ambitions in space during the next decade.”

The gateway will offer shelter for all the astronauts in space, and let them live, work, and make preparations for lunar surface missions. The astronauts can live there for up to 90 days. The science investigations on board equally help the astronauts study Helio Physics, Life Science, and Human Health alongside other important topics.

Back in 2020, the United Arab Emirates became one of the first signatories of the Artemis Accords. Artemis Accords is a set of principles to mentor cooperation for space exploration among many nations that were participating in the 21st Century lunar exploration programme of NASA.

With Artemis, NASA will also land the very first female and the first person to colour the surface of the Moon.

The Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, who also chairs the National Space Council has shown enthusiastic reaction for this international collaborative move for a space mission. “By combining our resources, scientific capacity, and technical skill, the US and UAE will further our collective vision for space,” Kamala Harris said on this collaborative initiative.