Etihad Cargo has transported a UAE-built space probe from Abu Dhabi to Colorado, US, ahead of its integration with the MBR Explorer spacecraft for the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA).
The specialised shipment departed Abu Dhabi for Chicago on November 2, 2026, arriving in Colorado three days later following eight months of coordination between Etihad Cargo, the UAE Space Agency and the Technology Innovation Institute (TII).
The probe has been delivered to the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado, where it will undergo final integration and systems verification ahead of the mission's planned launch from Japan in the first quarter of 2028.
Developed, assembled and tested in the UAE, the probe was produced by TII's Propulsion and Space Research Center in collaboration with HEX20, Khalifa University and the National Space Science and Technology Center at United Arab Emirates University.
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.
"As the UAE’s national carrier, we are proud to have played our part in connecting this pioneering mission with its next stage and supporting an initiative that showcases the UAE’s growing leadership in advanced technology and space exploration."
Led and funded by the UAE Space Agency, the EMA mission will cover approximately five billion kilometres, exploring seven asteroids before reaching its final destination, asteroid 269 Justitia.
During the final phase, the probe will separate from MBR Explorer and operate autonomously as it approaches the asteroid's surface, capturing detailed images to support scientific research.
The delivery marks the completion of the probe's development and testing phase in the UAE, with the next stage focusing on verifying the integration of its hardware, software and communications systems with the spacecraft.
