ISIDORA CIRIC (ABU DHABI)
Over the past decade, the UAE and the US have forged a dynamic and multifaceted partnership which has advanced the frontiers of space exploration for both nations.
From the initial 2016 agreement to collaborate in aeronautics research and the peaceful use of outer space, the two nations laid a strong foundation for joint endeavours. In 2020, the UAE and the US took on a joint role as founding signatories of the Artemis Accords, which set out a framework for space diplomacy and responsible exploration.
The expanding collaboration culminated in this year's announcement that the UAE will develop the airlock for NASA's Lunar Gateway - humanity's first lunar space station.
US Vice President Kamala Harris, acting in her capacity as chair of the US National Space Council, emphasised the significance of this collaboration, "By combining our resources, scientific capacity, and technical skill, the US and UAE will further our collective vision for space and ensure it presents extraordinary opportunities for everyone here on Earth."
Indeed, in a matter of years, the UAE-US space collaboration has rapidly expanded from modest beginnings to major endeavours.
Technological Collaboration and Lunar Gateway
"The United States and the United Arab Emirates are marking a historic moment in our nations' collaboration in space, and the future of human space exploration," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, during the most recent technological collaboration announcement between the two countries.
In January, the UAE announced that it would develop the airlock module for NASA's Lunar Gateway - a lunar orbiting outpost that will serve as a staging point for missions to the Moon and beyond. The airlock module is an important element of the Lunar Gateway, functioning as the primary entry and exit point for astronauts and equipment moving between the station and the lunar surface.
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) will provide the Crew and Science Airlock module, enabling crew transfers and scientific research activities in deep space. In addition to supplying the airlock, MBRSC will offer engineering support for the lifespan of the Gateway project. Scheduled for launch by 2030, the airlock will not only facilitate missions to the Moon's surface but also enable a wide array of scientific research in lunar orbit.
Gateway is part of NASA's Artemis programme, which aims to land humans, including the first woman and the first person of colour, to the Moon and lay the groundwork for future missions to Mars. The programme represents a diverse coalition of nations, including the Canadian Space Agency, the European Space Agency, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
This ambitious project builds upon the existing collaboration between the UAE and NASA. In 2022, the two agencies agreed to share scientific data between NASA's MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) mission and the UAE's Hope Probe. Both orbiters study the Martian atmosphere, and their data exchange enhances the scientific returns for both missions.
The UAE-US cooperation in space exploration extends to the private sector as well. For example, the UAE worked with Orbital ATK to develop the Al Yah 3 satellite in Virginia and partnered with Boeing to construct the Thuraya-3 satellite, which offers a range of services across a wide geographic region.
Space Diplomacy and Knowledge Sharing
"The US is proud that our partnership with the Emirates extends into the safe and responsible use of space via the Artemis Accords," said National Space Council Executive Secretary Chirag Parikh in April, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the UAE Space Programme.
His statement sums up the importance of space diplomacy in the partnership between the two countries. Both the US and the UAE were among the eight original signatories of the Artemis Accords in 2020, which established a set of principles for space activities, focusing on peaceful purposes, transparency, and adherence to international law. The accords have become a central element of global civil space diplomacy, with 36 nations now committed to its guidelines.
In 2016, NASA and the UAE Space Agency also signed an agreement to cooperate in aeronautics research and the peaceful use of outer space. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and UAE Space Agency Chairman, Dr. Khalifa Al Romaithi formalised and signed the agreement in Abu Dhabi.
This framework set the stage for joint activities in space science, Earth observation, and technology development and facilitated the exchange of scientific data, personnel, and expertise, enhancing the capabilities of both nations. It also aims to share the gathered knowledge with others through education. public outreach programmes and joint workshops. Since 2016, the UAE and the US have signed numerous other agreements and hosted joint space-related events.
Astronaut Training and Mutual Respect
"The partnership between NASA and the UAE in human space flight is an example of how much can be accomplished when nations come together in pursuit of shared goals," said Karen Feldstein, Associate Administrator for International and Interagency Relations at NASA, on the sidelines of a joint event in August 2023.
One of the earliest aspects of the UAE-US partnership has been in astronaut training and participation in international missions.
In 2019, Hazzaa Almansoori became the first Emirati astronaut to fly to space, participating in a mission to the International Space Station (ISS). During his time aboard the ISS, Almansoori worked closely with NASA's scientists and engineers on various experiments and engaged in educational outreach.
Building on this success, Sultan Al Neyadi embarked on a mission to the ISS in 2023 as part of NASA's SpaceX Crew-6 mission. While his mission was launched aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, the training and preparation involved collaboration with NASA facilities and personnel. His involvement included participation in scientific research aimed at advancing human knowledge and improving life on Earth.
Currently, two additional Emirati astronaut candidates are training at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
The UAE's strides in uncovering the secrets of the universe have not gone unnoticed from the US side. In late April, the Meridian International Center, a Washington-based non-profit organisation, presented its inaugural Global Leadership Award for Space Diplomacy to Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to the US, in recognition of the UAE's ventures and achievements in the space sector.
Ambitious Missions and Future Endeavours
The partnership has also helped build the UAE's domestic capabilities in space science, including the Emirates Mars Mission, also known as the Hope Probe, which successfully entered Mars' orbit in 2021 to study the planet's atmosphere and climate.
Launched on July 20, 2020, the mission represents the Arab world's first interplanetary endeavour.
What is less known, however, is the important role that US institutions played in this achievement through technical expertise and facilitated knowledge transfer. University of Colorado Boulder's Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) assisted in mission design and spacecraft development; Arizona State University contributed to the development of the Emirates Mars Infrared Spectrometer; and the University of California, Berkeley worked on the Emirates Mars Ultraviolet Spectrometer.
Looking ahead, the UAE is preparing for a mission to the asteroid belt, scheduled for launch in 2028. The mission plans to conduct high-speed flybys of six asteroids before rendezvousing with a seventh, where it will deploy a small lander.
This project involves collaboration with US institutions, including the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP), at the University of Colorado Boulder, Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University Malin Space Science Systems in San Diego, and other international partners.
Reflecting on the strength of UAE-US cooperation, UAE Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba noted, "Even hundreds of miles above the Earth, UAE-US collaboration is strong. From the Hope Mars probe to astronaut training... our nations are working together to advance scientific discovery and provide a more hopeful path forward for our young people."