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The UAE is preparing to launch an ambitious space mission in March 2028, aiming to explore 7 asteroids between Mars and Jupiter, culminating in an attempt to land on the mysterious red asteroid "Justitia" in 2036.
The mission carries the "Mohammed bin Rashid Explorer" spacecraft, which will travel about 5 billion kilometers during an 8-year journey to study asteroids and uncover the secrets of the solar system's origins.
"Justitia" attracts the attention of scientists due to its dark red color, which may indicate that it formed in the cold, distant regions of the solar system before moving to its current location. It is also likely to contain materials related to water and ancient organic compounds, which could help in understanding how planets formed and the conditions that contributed to the origin of life.
The spacecraft is scheduled to study six asteroids during its journey before reaching its final target in 2036, where it will monitor it from orbit for nearly seven months, then release a small probe toward its surface.
The mission relies on artificial intelligence technologies, as the probe can independently select the most important images and determine the data that should be sent to Earth.
Although the landing attempt may end with the probe colliding with the asteroid's surface and being destroyed, its cameras may capture detailed images during the descent, and the impact may reveal materials buried under the surface that are difficult to detect from orbit.
The mission represents a new step in developing the UAE's capabilities for deep space exploration and providing scientific data that may contribute to understanding the history of the solar system and its initial components.
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