Etihad Cargo transports UAE-developed space probe for final integration

Etihad Cargo has transported the probe developed for the UAE’s Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA) from Abu Dhabi to Colorado, supporting the mission’s next phase ahead of its planned launch in the first quarter of 2028. Stanislas Brun, Chief Cargo Officer at Etihad Airways, said: “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.”

The shipment follows the successful completion of the probe’s design, development, assembly and testing in the UAE. Its arrival in the US marks a key milestone, with the probe now ready for final integration with the MBR Explorer spacecraft at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP), University of Colorado.