Dubai’s MBRSC to collaborate with Airbus, SpaceX

Dubai’s Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) has signed MoUs with both Airbus Defence and Space as well as SpaceX along the sidelines of the International Astronautical Congress being held at the World Trade Centre in Dubai.

MBRSC x Airbus
The MBRSC has signed an MoU with Airbus Defence and Space to collaborate on the Emirates Lunar Mission.

The two entities will collaborate in the field of material testing in-situ on the surface of the Moon by means of the material adhesive demonstration (MAD) experiment.

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre @MBRSpaceCentre signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus to collaborate on the Emirates Lunar Mission in the field of material testing in-situ on the surface of the Moon by means of the material adhesive demonstration (MAD) experiment. pic.twitter.com/hdGEI0MMb8

— Airbus Space (@AirbusSpace) October 27, 2021

The MoU further details other scopes of work including exploring the realisation of an end-to-end In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) demonstration, building on key capabilities from each other for lunar surface operations, including mobility, robotics and regolith processing, among others.

“The UAE has made great strides in the field of space with a successful mission to Mars through the Hope Probe, as well as sending the first Emirati astronaut to the International Space Station,” said Jean-Marc Nasr, Head of Space Systems at Airbus. “As the country is embarking on its next ambitious space projects, we’re honored to be signing this MoU with MBRSC, which is a strategic step to expand our contribution to supporting the government achieve its goal of becoming a well-recognised and leading country in the field of space exploration.”

MBRSC x SpaceX
The MBRSC has also selected SpaceX as the launch provider to deliver MBZ-SAT, the most advanced commercial satellite in the region in the field of high-resolution satellite imagery, into space.

The second Emirati satellite to be fully developed and built by a team of Emirati engineers after the KhalifaSat will be launched on board SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.

MBZ-SAT is scheduled to launch toward the end of 2023 or at the beginning of 2024.

The 3m x 5m satellite, weighing in at around 700kg, will improve image capture resolution by more than double what is capable in the previously launched satellites. It will also increase the downlink data transmission speed by three times the current capacity. The fully automated image scheduling and processing system of MBZ-SAT will produce more than 10 times the images the centre produces currently.

The Falcon 9 rocket meanwhile is a reusable, two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX to transport of people and payloads into space.

“We are continually seeking to extend and diversify our ecosystem of partners, particularly in the strategically important area of launch partners. We are delighted to partner with SpaceX to deliver the MBZ-SAT into space as they offer the key attributes of readiness, reliability and technological expertise for this project. The launch of MBZ-SAT is only the first step to unlock future opportunities with SpaceX, and we look forward to utilising further technology developments and space resources with them,” said Yousuf Hamad AlShaibani, director-general at MBRSC.