An Ambitious Journey to the Asteroids
The UAE's mission, known as the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA), is one of the most complex interplanetary journeys ever planned. The MBR Explorer spacecraft is scheduled to launch in March 2028. Its primary goal is to travel over five billion
kilometres, performing gravity-assist manoeuvres around Venus and Earth to gain speed before reaching the main asteroid belt. Over its eight-year voyage, it will study seven different asteroids, culminating in a historic encounter with its final target, a mysteriously reddish asteroid named 269 Justitia, in 2034. The mission's climax involves deploying a small, autonomous lander that will separate from the main spacecraft and touch down on Justitia's surface, a feat achieved by only a handful of nations in history.
India's Crucial Contribution
At the heart of this historic probe is the work of HEX20, a space-tech startup based in Technopark, Kerala. The company has made history by becoming the first Indian private firm selected by the UAE Space Agency for a deep-space mission. HEX20 was chosen by the UAE's Technology Innovation Institute (TII) to develop the probe's core systems, including the spacecraft bus and critical flight software. This means the Indian-developed technology will be responsible for the lander's onboard computing and power management systems, which are essential for its autonomous operations millions of kilometres from Earth. After the probe was assembled and tested in Abu Dhabi, it is being sent to Colorado in the US for final integration with the main MBR Explorer spacecraft.
A 'Made in India' Moment in Deep Space
This collaboration is a landmark achievement for India's burgeoning private space ecosystem. While companies like Larsen & Toubro and Godrej Aerospace have long supported the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the sector received a major boost in 2020 with the establishment of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe). This agency was created specifically to encourage and supervise the activities of private companies in the space sector. HEX20's selection for a high-stakes international mission validates the government's policy of empowering private players. It demonstrates that Indian startups now possess the advanced capabilities required for complex upstream activities, such as developing and building critical spacecraft components for deep-space exploration.
Strengthening India-UAE Space Ties
The partnership on the EMA mission is part of a broader and deepening strategic relationship between India and the UAE in space technology. In January 2026, IN-SPACe and the UAE Space Agency signed a Letter of Intent to enhance cooperation in commercial space activities and strengthen ties between the two nations' industries. This formal agreement aims to create a structured framework for long-term collaboration, building on the shared vision of both countries. The success of companies like HEX20 on the global stage is a direct result of this supportive environment, which fosters innovation and opens up new frontiers for private Indian companies to participate in both national security and international scientific missions. This project serves as a powerful example of how bilateral cooperation can accelerate technological development and achieve ambitious goals in space exploration.
