Officials from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Space Agency, and the National Space Council convened to reinforce a partnership supporting NASA’s Gateway, the inaugural lunar space station. The UAE has fostered its own space program through collaboration with NASA, U.S. research institutions, and other stakeholders in the aeronautics industry.
This proclamation comes on the heels of a recent announcement about a collaborative project between NASA and MBRSC to furnish an airlock to Gateway. This lunar space station will orbit the moon and facilitate long-term exploration of our celestial neighbor under the Artemis project. The MBRSC will supply both the Crew and Science Airlock Module as well as an astronaut from the UAE.
"The UAE is proud to work with partners across the US to build upon humanity's collective understanding of the cosmos. From the Gateway program to exploring Mars' atmosphere, our two nations' partnership continues to go from strength to strength. Not even the sky is the limit for our shared ambitions," stated Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to the US, who presided over this recent gathering.
The US and UAE were among those who initially signed onto the Artemis Accords. According to a news release dated May 3, 2023, these Accords represent a set of shared principles for civil space exploration. At that time, 24 countries had endorsed these Accords.
"A testament to this thriving collaboration is our partnership with NASA in developing the Emirates Airlock for the Gateway Lunar Space Station. As we look to the future, we are reminded that it is through unity and shared vision that we can push boundaries of what is possible, creating a legacy of innovation and discovery for future generations," said Al Marri, MBRSC Director General, in a news release dated March 8.