Hundreds of residents turned up in late May as Dubai Astronomy Group organised an event. But can you drive there yourself? Yes, according to Khadijah Al Hariri, Operations Manager, from DAG. Here's what you need to know.

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What is the Milky Way spot, and when is the best time to go?

As the name suggests, the Milky Way spot in Abu Dhabi's Al Quaa offers you unparalleled views of our galaxy. The "season" starts from late March, and it remains visible till September, Khadijah said.

The best time for observers to view the Milky Way is after 9pm, up until 3am, as these hours offer visibility of the core. "While the exact centre of the galaxy is not visible, observers can see the bright Milky Way core region around it," she added.

To spot the Milky Way, use apps like Stellarium to help you first find constellations. Look south to southeast, and find the Scorpius and Sagittarius constellations. Sagittarius is shaped like a teapot, Khadijah said.

Once the constellations are located, the faint cloudy band rising from that area is the Milky Way. It becomes clearer, and higher in the sky as the night goes on, she added.

How to reach the location?

The trip takes around two to three hours from Dubai and Sharjah. It is best to leave around 7pm to reach before darkness sets in. Make sure to fuel up before you leave.

There are multiple routes to reach the spot, including using the highways like E611 (Emirates Road), E11 (Sheikh Zayed Road), and E66 (Dubai-Al Ain Road). Then, you will have to take the exit towards the Al Ain direction, after which there several truck roads you will follow.

Since the desert can be reached through multiple routes, and requires you to take different exits on various roundabouts, the best thing to do is download offline maps to the 'Al Quaa Milky Way Spot.'

Downloading the offline map is particularly important as you may find that your mobile signal does not work in the desert.

A few kilometres before the spot, you will see a gate, which opens on its own. Do not be in a rush, drive slowly and carefully through the gate. Once you have crossed it, any location works as long as you are not too close to city lights. Do not venture too deep in to the desert, Khadijah stressed.

While any car can make it through, and you do not necessarily need a 4x4, it is important to stay away from the edges of the road. Stay in the centre, and drive in a straight line on the paved part, so you don't get stuck in loose sand.

What you need to know

• There are no facilities close by to the desert. The nearest restroom is 45 minutes away, at the Adnoc petrol station, where you can also get snacks and drinks. Keep this in mind when planning your trip.

• Wildlife such as camels, spiders, and scorpions may be present. Wear closed shoes, and avoid wandering deep into the desert. It is preferable to go with large groups of people, and stay together.

• Bring essentials like water, snacks, a jacket, and a chair or mat. If you are camping there, avoid open food and barbeques. Avoid bonfires directly on sand, use portable bonfire pits instead.

• Plan your visit around the new moon to avoid moonlight affecting visibility. You may also check a light pollution map.

• Once on site, use red light only. Dim your car lights, and avoid flash. Keep noise to a minimum and be respectful of others’ setups. Clean up after yourself and take all trash with you.

Is it all worth it?

While it can be a bit of a hassle to drive down, "the payoff is beautiful. The purpose of viewing the Milky Way makes the visit very meaningful," says long-time UAE resident Karren, who hails from India.

Karren, along with her husband Rony, said they are enthusiasts of "creation", including the astro world. However, this is the first time Karren has been to a space event despite living in UAE for almost 30 years, she said.

"As we entered Al Quaa, we realised we are cut off from the light and it was very different from city skies," Karren said.

"With the size of one star being many times bigger than our planet, we are in awe at seeing so many stars in this small area in the sky," Rony added.

On the other side of the event, is Raghav Krishna, a 16-year-old volunteer at DAG, who has participated in multiple space events. The young space enthusiast said he never tires of sharing "cool" space facts with others, and that "knowledge is only useful when you share it."

Milky Way is also a celestial body which never gets old no matter how many times one observes it, he added. To volunteer at these events, he also balances academics with his passion. While applying for competitive exams, the cosmos serves as a nice break from his studies, he added.

Raghav also explained that UAE deserts are a scientifically, and geographically apt place to observe the universe due to their good climate, dark nights, lack of light pollution, and lack of moisture.

The latest uncrewed launch of Starship — designed to enable more frequent Starlink satellite launches and to send future NASA missions to the moon — achieved a key milestone for the vehicle following months of testing delays. The outcome could also boost investor confidence ahead of SpaceX's initial public offering next month, expected to be the largest in history.

Starship, which SpaceX has spent more than $15 billion developing as a fully reusable spacecraft, is critical to Musk's goals of cutting launch costs, expanding his Starlink business and pursuing ambitions ranging from deep-space exploration to orbital data centers — all factored into his targeted $1.75 trillion IPO valuation.

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Friday's launch marked SpaceX's 12th test flight of a Starship prototype since 2023 and the first of its V3 iteration, a major upgrade of both the cruise vessel and its Super Heavy booster, as well as the first blast-off from a launch pad specially designed for the new rocket.

'Meaningful step forward'

SpaceX was counting on a successful test flight to reinforce its case that the largest and most powerful rocket ever flown is nearing commercial readiness after years of explosive setbacks and development delays. Friday's test appeared to have achieved most of its major objectives.

The towering vehicle, consisting of the upper-stage Starship astronaut vessel stacked atop a Super Heavy booster rocket, blasted off around 5:30 p.m. CT (2230 GMT) from SpaceX facilities in Starbase, Texas, on the Gulf of Mexico near Brownsville.

Minutes later, the two stages cleanly separated, leaving the Starship vehicle to soar on to its cruise phase despite the loss of one of its six engines, then release its simulated satellite payload before surviving a fiery atmospheric re-entry and splashdown. Its flight lasted just over an hour in all.

The lower-stage Super Heavy came down separately in the gulf about six minutes after blast-off, as expected, but the booster rocket failed to complete a planned boost-back burn of its engines after separating from Starship.

Musk welcomed the outcome with a message posted to his X platform, congratulating his "SpaceX team on an epic first Starship V3 launch landing!"

Kathleen Curlee, a research analyst at Georgetown University's Center for Security and Emerging Technology, hailed the flight as "another meaningful step forward in SpaceX’s broader strategy of building the launch capacity needed to support the company’s expanding ambitions in space."

Although the flight encountered "some anomalies," Curlee said, "the test appears to have achieved several key objectives and will provide SpaceX with significant operational and engineering data moving forward."

A live SpaceX webcast of the liftoff showed the rocketship, more than 40 stories tall, climbing from the launch tower as the Super Heavy's cluster of 33 Raptor engines thundered to life in a ball of flames and billowing clouds of vapor and exhaust.

The test ended about 65 minutes later when the Starship vehicle blazed through Earth's atmosphere and landed in the Indian Ocean, nose up as planned, before keeling over in the sea and exploding in a fireball, to the raucous cheers of SpaceX employees who gathered to watch the flight webcast.

SpaceX said before the launch it would not attempt a safe return landing or recovery of either the booster or the Starship upper stage, even if all else went as planned.

During its suborbital cruise phase, Starship successfully released its payload of 20 mock Starlink satellites one by one, plus two actual modified satellites that scanned the spacecraft's heat shield and transmitted data back to operators on the ground during the vehicle's descent.

Given the failure of one of Starship's six engines early in the flight, mission controllers opted not to attempt a planned in-space engine re-ignition before re-entry.

But the vehicle did execute a return-landing burn at the very end of its flight, along with several maneuvers deliberately intended to place the spacecraft under maximum stress. Starship completed those moves intact for its controlled final descent.

Investor scrutiny ahead of IPO

Test flight 12 in the Starship campaign was being closely watched by investors three weeks ahead of the initial public offering, which could become the first US market debut above $1 trillion and immediately transform SpaceX into one of the world's most valuable publicly traded companies.

The future of SpaceX's most lucrative businesses, centered on its Starlink operation and plans for orbital data centers, hinges largely on Starship getting them to space.

While Musk has publicly taken previous test-flight setbacks in stride, it remains to be seen how investors reconcile the billionaire entrepreneur's appetite for short-term risk-taking with his longer-term aspirations for lunar and interplanetary space travel.

SpaceX's engineering culture, considered more risk-tolerant than many of the aerospace industry's more established players, is built on a flight-testing strategy that pushes newly developed spacecraft to the point of failure, then fine-tunes improvements through frequent repetition.

Musk, who founded his California-based rocket company in 2002, said one year ago that he foresaw Starship making its first uncrewed voyage to Mars at the end of 2026, a goal now clearly beyond reach.

The V3 features a host of upgrades designed to perfect the vehicle's functionality for missions beyond the low-Earth orbit realm of SpaceX's current workhorse launch system, consisting of a Falcon 9 or Falcon Heavy rocket booster with a Dragon capsule.

One of the principal improvements to the Super Heavy booster is a revamping of its Raptor engines to produce greater thrust from a design that weighs significantly less.

The propulsion system of the upper-stage Starship likewise has been refined for long-duration missions, with mechanisms to allow for ship-to-ship docking, refueling in space and increased maneuverability.

Multiple Starship tanker vessels would be required to conduct the in-orbit refueling operation - a risky and unproven procedure required under SpaceX's strategy for its first lunar-landing mission, planned for 2028.

All of that was incorporated into the $3 billion-plus contract SpaceX won in 2021 under NASA's Artemis program, the U.S. effort to return astronauts to the surface of the moon later this decade for the first time since 1972. Those plans put Starship at the center of a new space race with China, which aims for a crewed lunar landing of its own in 2030.

Dr Khalid Al Naqbi has spent 15 years inside the infrastructure nobody sees. As National Expert on Satellite Technology and VP of Product and Engineering at Space42, he joined the sector when Emirati representation was thin, the technology was imported, and space was still largely a conversation between superpowers. 

Most people understand satellites as the thing behind maps and weather forecasts. The reality runs considerably deeper. "We use satellites for communications, for positioning, navigation and timing, and for Earth observation," Al Naqbi said. "Whether you use satellites for your car, for your phone, for your communications, these applications all have dual use. You have the defence use and you have the commercial. And all of them are woven into the foundation of how countries operate every single day."

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The consequences of that dependence are rarely discussed until something breaks. The Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) signals underpin aviation routing, financial transaction timestamps, mobile network coordination, and logistics at a scale most people have never considered. "The timestamp and the location services, financial systems, the mobility sector, aviation, communication networks — all of these systems need to know the location of users and the time to coordinate," he told Khaleej Times. "Without the GNSS we are blind."

Modern systems rely on satellites. But many countries rely on satellites they do not control. 

AI-driven data

What AI has done to satellite infrastructure is transform what it can see and how fast it can act. Synthetic Aperture Radar satellites capture high-resolution imagery in all weather and darkness. The data they produce was once difficult for the human eye to interpret. Not anymore. "Today, with the applications we have and with artificial intelligence, we are able to bring radar images to optical images, an image you can take straight up with your mobile phone," Al Naqbi said. "The computer takes the radar image and the artificial intelligence makes it as if it is an optical image, layering the information in a way that the normal human eye would understand."

The applications that follow are direct. AI can now analyse soil content from orbit, track waterway changes over time, and model urban flood paths before rain falls. "If it rains, we would actually, with AI, anticipate where the water would run in a city, which will help us in preventing damage, allowing for water access, and maybe utilising the water better. AI helped us study things that we cannot normally monitor with the naked eye, things that were simply not reachable before."

Region's first commercial SAR satellite manufacturer

Space42's Foresight constellation now comprises five SAR satellites in low Earth orbit, operating at 25-centimetre resolution and placing the UAE among 20 countries worldwide that operate SAR space assets. Abu Dhabi is now home to the region's first commercial SAR satellite manufacturing facility, allowing it design, assemble, and test advanced Earth observation satellites independently for the first time. 

The UAE's response to that opening was not simply to participate. It was to own a piece of it. Infrastructure, data centres, manufacturing, knowledge, and the people who carry it, all within the country's borders.

"The ambition has always been to utilise space as a part that cannot be separated or excluded from the UAE's infrastructure and foundation in technology, in providing services, in enhancing people's lives, but the ambition that has been constant is not only growth in technology and business. They have always invested in the human capital, in people's education and growth. And I am maybe one of the biggest people who benefited from this."

That investment is visible with the new generation. When Al Naqbi joined, Emiratis in space could be counted in a small group. Today he watches his younger peers graduate in space technology, AI, and cybersecurity with a sense of direction the field dreamed of before. 

"I proudly see my younger brothers and sisters today graduating in those fields with huge eagerness to join," he said. "It is something really to be proud of."

That cross-sectoral thinking was shaped in part by the National Expert Programme, from which Al Naqbi graduated as a representative of the space technology sector. The programme, designed to develop UAE leaders with the ability to connect disciplines and advocate for their fields, built in its graduates something beyond technical knowledge.

"Their goal was to cement our knowledge of our sectors, enhancing our ability to think in a cross-sectoral manner, to tie all the important sectors of the UAE together, to be advocates, to be mentors, to be educators," he said. "They built in us confidence that our careers, our knowledge, our academic paths are all relevant and important for the nation."

The question for countries has gone beyond investing in space tech and into independent sovreign systems. The UAE, Al Naqbi says, made that calculation early: The satellites in orbit, the facility in Abu Dhabi, and the engineers now filling both are the answer it built.

The ambitious project is the result of a strategic partnership between Action Flight Aviation and BLINC Space, bringing immersive astronaut-style experiences to the emirate as part of its broader push to position itself as a future-focused destination for adventure and premium tourism.

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The memorandum of understanding was signed during a high-profile event attended by leading spaceflight experts and investors, including Ché Bolden, son of former Nasa Administrator Charles F. Bolden Jr., and NASA astronaut Jeanette J. Epps.

Under the partnership, the two organisations will introduce immersive astronaut-training experiences in Ras Al Khaimah, featuring high-performance aviation, G-force conditioning, aerobatic flight operations, parachute and freefall preparation, and zero-gravity training concepts.

The programmes are designed as structured journeys tailored for future private astronauts, corporate groups, and adventure-focused visitors seeking transformative experiences.

Participants will undergo training in controlled, simulated airborne environments that replicate launch and re-entry conditions, spatial disorientation, high-pressure decision-making, and the physical and mental demands of human spaceflight.

The initiative aligns closely with Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism development strategy, supporting the emirate’s ambition to become a future-focused destination offering differentiated and premium experiential tourism products.

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority Chief Commercial Officer Brent Anderson said the initiative reflects the emirate’s focus on delivering innovative experiences that combine adventure, technology, and high-end tourism.

Mac Malkawi, Founder and CEO of BLINC Space, said the partnership aims to help shape the UAE’s future in space by giving people direct access to the world of human spaceflight and astronaut preparation.

Captain Wayne A. Jack, Founder and CEO of Action Flight Aviation and Vertical Advanced Flight Training, said the collaboration expands the company’s aviation offerings into a new category that merges tourism, human performance, and space readiness.

Under the agreement, Action Flight Aviation will exclusively operate all airborne training and aviation activities in Ras Al Khaimah under its GCAA Air Operator Certificate and Air Training Organization approvals, while BLINC Space will oversee astronaut program architecture, curriculum integration, international partnerships, and global participant engagement.

Initial experiences are expected to launch in the second half of 2026 and will include astronaut-inspired G-force training, aerobatic flight experiences, aviation handling programmes, and introductory space-readiness activities. Future phases are expected to introduce multi-day astronaut training packages, advanced free-fall systems, fast-jet experiences, and zero-gravity parabolic flight operations.

The UAE will join the world on April 12 in marking the International Day of Human Space Flight, coinciding this year with the country’s adoption of the National Space Strategy 2031, designed to boost the sector’s contribution to the economy.

The strategy focuses on three main goals: building a resilient and investment-attractive space ecosystem, strengthening global partnerships and market access, and developing competitive infrastructure and facilities.

Key targets include doubling space economy revenues, placing the UAE among the world’s top 10 space economies by 2031, increasing the sector’s economic contribution, and expanding the number of national companies, export markets and space-related investments.

The announcement follows progress under the previous strategy, which saw the development of advanced local capabilities in space technology, the launch of scientific missions, and stronger international partnerships. The UAE has developed 30 satellites, while more than 170 entities are now active in the space economy.

Earlier this year, the UAE extended the Mars Probe mission until 2028, following its operational success and continued collection of data on Mars’ atmosphere and climate.

Since its launch, the mission has released more than 10 terabytes of scientific data and published around 16 data releases for researchers and the global scientific community, alongside more than 35 peer-reviewed studies.

In January, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre released new high-resolution images captured by the “MBZ-SAT” satellite, marking one year since its launch.

In March, a decree was issued to establish the Sharjah Space and Astronomy Complex, alongside the launch of the CubeSat “Sharjah Sat-2”, aimed at providing high-resolution spectral data to support research and strategic planning.

In research developments, an international team led by New York University Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with Jilin University, China, has discovered a new type of organic crystal that can repair itself after being damaged at extremely low temperatures. This breakthrough could pave the way for the next generation of durable, lightweight materials designed to perform in some of the harshest environments on Earth and space.

Separately, the National Space Academy launched the first edition of the "Arab Youth Space Hackathon”, providing a platform for young talent to develop applications in Earth observation and hyperspectral data.

Nasa's gumdrop-shaped Orion capsule, dubbed Integrity, parachuted gently into calm seas off the Southern California coast shortly after 5.07pm Pacific Time (00.07am GMT on Saturday), concluding a mission that four days prior took the astronauts 252,000 miles away from Earth, deeper into space than anyone had flown before.

The Artemis II flight, traveling a total of 694,392 miles (1,117,515 km) in two Earth orbits and a climactic lunar flyby, was the debut crewed test flight in a series of Artemis missions that aim to return astronauts to the lunar surface starting in 2028.

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'Perfect bull's eye'

The splashdown, under partly cloudy skies about two hours before sunset, was carried by live video feed in a Nasa webcast. "A perfect bull's eye splashdown for Integrity and its four astronauts," Nasa commentator Rob Navias said moments after the landing.

"We are stable one — four green crew members," mission commander Reid Wiseman radioed just after splashdown, signaling the capsule was steady and that all four astronauts were in good shape.

It took Nasa and US Navy recovery teams less than two hours to secure the floating capsule and retrieve the four crew members — US astronauts Wiseman, 50, Victor Glover, 49, and Christina Koch, 47, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, 50. Nasa reported that a navy medical officer who briefly checked the astronauts aboard the capsule found them all to be healthy.

The crew's homecoming cleared a critical final hurdle for the Lockheed Martin-built Orion spacecraft, proving it would withstand the extreme forces of re-entry from a lunar-return trajectory.

It followed a white-knuckle, fiery plunge as Orion barreled into Earth's atmosphere at nearly 33 times the speed of sound, generating frictional heat that sent temperatures on the capsule's exterior soaring to some 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,760 degrees Celsius). A plume of ionised gas from the intense heat and air compression enveloped the vehicle, causing a planned radio blackout of several minutes at the peak of re-entry stress.

The tension broke as contact was re-established and two sets of parachutes were seen billowing from the nose of the free-falling capsule, slowing its descent to about 15 mph (25 kph) before Orion gently hit the water.

Once Navy divers had attached a floating collar to stabilise the capsule, the four astronauts, still wearing their orange flight suits, were helped onto an inflatable raft. From there, they were hoisted one by one to helicopters hovering overhead and flown a short distance to nearby Navy amphibious transport vessel, the John P. Murtha, for further medical examination.

Glover and Koch smiled broadly and waved toward cameras as they sat on the edge of a helicopter door on the flight deck.

The crew was expected to spend the night aboard the ship and be flown on Saturday to Houston, where they will be reunited with family, Nasa said.

Stepping stone to Mars

The quartet blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on April 1, lofted into an initial Earth orbit by Nasa's giant Space Launch System rocket before sailing on for a rare journey around the far side of the moon.

In so doing, they became the first astronauts to fly around Earth's only natural satellite since the Apollo program of the 1960s and '70s. Glover, Koch and Hansen also made history as the first Black astronaut, the first woman and first non-US citizen, respectively, to take part in a lunar mission.

At the flight's peak, the Artemis astronauts reached a point 252,756 miles from Earth, exceeding the previous record of roughly 248,000 miles set in 1970 by the crew of Apollo 13.

The voyage, following the uncrewed Artemis I test flight around the moon by the Orion spacecraft in 2022, marked a critical dress rehearsal for a planned attempt later this decade to land astronauts on the lunar surface for the first time since Apollo 17 in late 1972.

"This is an incredible test of an incredible machine," said Nasa's associate administrator, Amit Kshatriya.

Nasa is seeking to achieve a crewed moon landing ahead of China. But the ultimate goal of the Artemis program is to establish a long-term presence on the moon as a stepping stone to eventual human exploration of Mars.

In a historical parallel to the Cold War era of Apollo, the Artemis II mission has played out against a backdrop of political and social turmoil, including a US military conflict that has proven unpopular at home.

Public fascination

For many in a global audience captivated by the latest moon shot, it reaffirmed the achievements of science and technology at a time when big tech has become widely distrusted, even feared. More than 3 million viewers watched the splashdown on Nasa's YouTube channel, the streaming service showed.

The return to Earth put the Orion spacecraft through a critical test of its heat shield, which sustained an unexpected level of scorching and stress on re-entry during its 2022 debut test flight. As a result, Nasa engineers altered the descent trajectory for Artemis II in order to reduce heat buildup and lower the risk to the capsule and its crew.

Last week's successful launch was a major milestone for the SLS rocket, handing its principal contractors, Boeing and Northrop Grumman, long-sought validation that the launch system more than a decade in development was ready to safely fly humans to space.

US President Donald Trump hailed the astronauts' return in a message posted to his Truth Social platform: "Congratulations to the Great and Very Talented Crew of Artemis II. The entire trip was spectacular, the landing was perfect and, as President of the United States, I could not be more proud!"

Nasa's renewed lunar ambitions have been clouded in recent months, however, by workforce reductions under the Trump administration's federal downsizing efforts that have cut space agency personnel by 20 per cent.

The Artemis programme, named after the twin sister of Apollo, stands as a major turning point for Nasa, redirecting its human spaceflight programme beyond low-Earth orbit after decades focused on space shuttles and the International Space Station.

Compared with Apollo, born of the Cold War-era US-Soviet space race, Nasa has characterised Artemis as a broader, more cooperative effort, while hoping to return to the moon before China, which is aiming for a 2030 crewed landing.

The US lunar programme has enlisted commercial partners such as Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, which are building the program's lunar landers, and the space agencies of Europe, Canada, and Japan.

With a thunderous roar that reverberated far beyond the launchpad, the enormous orange-and-white rocket carried three Americans and one Canadian away from Florida's Kennedy Space Center at approximately 6.35pm (2.35am GST) local time.

Nasa teams and spectators alike were ecstatic as the spacecraft ascended into a radiant sky atop a cascade of flames. The team, who donned bright orange suits with blue trim as the mission began, includes Americans Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch along with Canadian Jeremy Hansen. "We have a beautiful moonrise. We're headed right at it," said Wiseman, the mission commander.

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US President Donald Trump praised "our brave astronauts," calling the successful launch "quite something" at the top of his televised address on the war against Iran.

The astronauts are now in orbit around the Earth, where they will remain while performing various checks to ensure the reliability and safety of a spacecraft that has never carried humans before.

They successfully completed "promixity operations" demonstrations, which tested how their Orion capsule can move relative to another spacecraft and included various maneuvers that mimic what would be needed to dock with a lunar lander.

"Great flying with you, Houston. Nice vehicle," said pilot Glover.

Early on teams identified a number of kinks to work out, including "a controller issue with the toilet when they spun it up," said Amit Kshatriya, Nasa's associate administrator, during a post-launch briefing.

"We're just getting started," he added.

Nasa head Jared Isaacman also noted a temporary communication problem with the spacecraft that had since been resolved.

The astronauts were "safe, they're secure, and they're in great spirits," he said. Isaacman also emphasised the historic nature of Wednesday's launch: "Nasa is back in the business of sending people to the Moon."

'Big step for humanity'

If all goes well the Artemis 2 team is expected to head out Thursday on its three-day journey towards the Moon, which it will then loop around to capture new images and make naked-eye observations.

The voyage should last approximately 10 days in total, and aims to pave the way for a Moon landing in 2028.

Scientist Sian Proctor ventured to Florida's Space Coast to witness the moment along with the approximately 400,000 people local authorities said had gathered to watch.

"I'm just so happy that we're going back to the Moon," Proctor said.

"Everybody should be excited and be following the next 10 days, because this is a big step for humanity."

The mission marks a series of historic accomplishments: it will send the first person of colour, the first woman and the first non-American on a lunar mission.

If the plan proceeds as expected, the astronauts will set a record by venturing farther from Earth than any human before.

It is also the inaugural crewed flight of Nasa's new lunar rocket, dubbed the Space Launch System.

SLS is designed to allow the United States to repeatedly return to the Moon, with the goal of establishing a permanent base that will offer a platform for further exploration.

It was meant to take off as early as February after years of delays and massive cost overruns.

But repeated setbacks stalled it and even necessitated rolling the rocket back to its hangar for investigation and repairs.

"Nasa really needs this win right now," Casey Dreier, chief of space policy at The Planetary Society, told AFP, noting the US space agency's recent budget turmoil and a workforce exodus that have challenged morale.

'Competition'

The current era of American lunar investment has frequently been portrayed as an effort to compete with China, which aims to land humans on the Moon by 2030.

During the post-launch briefing, Isaacman said competition was "a great way to mobilise the resources of a nation."

"Competition can be a good thing," he said. "And we certainly have competition now."

The Artemis program has come under pressure from Trump, who has pushed its pace with the hope that boots will hit the lunar surface before his second term ends in early 2029.

But the projected date of 2028 for a landing has raised eyebrows among experts, in part because Washington is relying on the private sector's technological headway.

Earlier in the day Trump said on Truth Social that the US is "WINNING."

"Economically, Militarily, and now, BEYOND THE STARS. Nobody comes close! America doesn't just compete, we DOMINATE, and the whole World is watching," he posted.

In doing so, they will become the new faces of American space exploration.

Americans Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch will make the voyage with their Canadian colleague Jeremy Hansen, and are now preparing to take off as soon as Wednesday.

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The journey, set to last around 10 days, will take the astronauts on a loop around the Moon, though they will not land on its surface.

The crew comprises the first woman, the first person of colour and the first non-American to take part in such a journey.

Those are key differences from the Apollo era, which included the first and only humans to travel to the Moon.

Here is a closer look at the crew:

Reid Wiseman

At 50 years old, Reid Wiseman is the mission's commander.

The native of Baltimore joined NASA in 2009 following a 27-year career in the US Navy.

"I never thought I'd be an astronaut," he said on a NASA podcast. "I mean, come on, it's like an unobtainable dream."

Until it's not: in 2014, Wiseman traveled to space for a 165-day mission aboard the International Space Station, and later served as NASA's chief of the astronaut office.

After losing his wife to cancer in 2020, he raised his two daughters — now teenagers — on his own.

In January, he said he aimed for transparency in explaining to them the inherent risks of his career and his coming journey.

"I told them, 'here's where the will is, here's where the trust documents are,'" he said. "And if anything happens to me, here's what's going to happen to you."

"And that's just that is a part of this life."

Victor Glover

Another Navy veteran, Victor Glover, 49, will serve as pilot of the Orion spacecraft.

The native of California and father of four daughters was working as a legislative advisor in the US Senate when NASA selected him in 2013.

He has recounted youthful dreaming of becoming a police officer like his father.

But watching a Space Shuttle launch on his family's television set changed his perspective: "I thought, 'I really want to drive one of those.'"

"And yes, I said drive, because I didn't know any pilots or engineers."

He will become the first Black man — and person of colour, period — to travel to the Moon.

In 2020, he became the first African American to take part on a long-duration mission to the ISS.

He emphasized at the time that the historic first was made possible thanks to those who came before him, paying tribute to figures including Guion Bluford, the first African American to travel to space in 1983.

Christina Koch

American astronaut Christina Koch, 47, will become the first woman to take part in a lunar mission.

Like Glover, she was also chosen by NASA in 2013. 

Her background is particularly eclectic: an engineer by training, she is a seasoned explorer who has worked in extreme environments including Antarctica.

She long dreamed of becoming an astronaut, she has said, noting the poster of the iconic "Earthrise" image plastered to the wall of her childhood bedroom.

That photograph was taken during the Apollo 8 mission in 1968.

"I always say to people, do what scares you," she says of her personal motto. "And that means I have to follow my own advice."

Koch already holds the record for longest spaceflight by a woman — 328 days — and also participated in the first spacewalk performed entirely by women, alongside her colleague Jessica Meir.

Jeremy Hansen

Canadian Jeremy Hansen, 50, rounds out the crew and will be the first non-American to fly around the Moon.

Following his career as a fighter pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Canadian Space Agency brought him into its ranks in 2009.

Post-training he served for several years as a liaison between Earth and the ISS, after which he was entrusted with training a new class of astronauts.

He has said that as a child he found a photograph of Neil Armstrong on the Moon, a moment that sparked his passion for space exploration.

The Artemis 2 mission will be his first journey away from Earth — and with that, the father of three will fulfill a lifelong dream.

According to a decree by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, a specialised institution in space science and astronomy will be established in the emirates under the name 'Sharjah Space and Astronomy Complex'.

The decree stipulates that the President of the University of Sharjah shall issue a decision to regulate the objectives, competencies, administration, and all affairs of the complex. It also provides for the transfer of all employees, assets, holdings, rights, obligations, and financial allocations of the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology to the new complex.

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In accordance with the decree, Law No. (2) of 2019 concerning the establishment and regulation of the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology is repealed.

“Following NASA's recent announcements on establishing a sustained lunar presence, MBRSC reaffirms that its engagement with the Artemis programme and partnership with NASA continue, as it advances its own lunar capabilities with a clear sense of purpose,” read the statement.

“The UAE has made a long-term commitment to space exploration, and that is reflected in what the Centre is building and where it is headed. This is a significant moment in the history of lunar exploration, and the UAE will continue to be a part of it and move forward in a manner that reflects the ambitions of this nation," it added.

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NASA’s announcement on Tuesday outlined a new phased approach to lunar development. The agency will pause the Gateway project as a standalone lunar station and instead focus on building a moon base designed to support a permanent human presence on the lunar surface.

The UAE has already been deeply involved in the Gateway project. In 2024, MBRSC revealed that it would develop and operate the Emirates Airlock — a module enabling astronauts to perform spacewalks, transfer research and crew, and serve as an additional docking port for spacecraft.

New moon base strategy

The new strategy, which comes under NASA’s new administrator Jared Isaacman who took charge in December, will see the agency take on the ambitious project of building a settlement on the moon for astronauts to live and work more permanently.

To be rolled out in three phases, the project aims to transition from periodic expeditions to a continuous presence of humans on the moon and NASA will spend approximately $20 billion over the next seven years.

Among other projects, Isaacman also announced the 2028 Mars mission, which will put nuclear electric propulsion technology to use in space for the first time. Unlike conventional spacecraft that rely on solar panels or chemical propulsion, the Space Reactor-1 Freedom will generate its own power through a nuclear fission reactor, converting that energy into thrust through advanced electric propulsion systems.

The eerie nickname comes from a formation of gas dust in the lower left of the nebula that resembles a human figure, reminiscent of the mythical 'Boogeyman' used in Western folktales to frighten children. Similar legendary figures exist in Arab cultures, including 'Abu Rujm al-Masloukhah' or 'the Donkey of the Nap Time'.

Nebula names are either designations for famous and long-discovered nebulae, such as the Orion Nebula or the Eagle Nebula, or names for recently discovered ones assigned by their discoverers or the first to image them.

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This nebula lies in the Orion constellation, approximately 1,500 light-years from Earth. It is a dark nebula appearing in front of a glowing mass of red hydrogen gas, which forms part of the 'Barnard Loop'.

Why does the nebula look like a 'Boogeyman'?

The "Boogeyman" Nebula appears this way due to the high density of gas and dust within it, which blocks light emitted from behind, making it show up as a dense, opaque dark cloud.

To the right of the Boogeyman’s “head” is a smaller reflection nebula, vdB 62, which glows by reflecting light from a star within it, cataloged as HD 288313, illuminating its clouds with that star's light.

Imaging the Boogeyman Nebula was no simple task. Observations began on January 2, 2026 and continued until February 5, depending on weather conditions, sky clarity, and the moon's distance from the nebula's position.

Over this month-long campaign, the team captured 343 images, each with a five-minute exposure, totaling 28.5 hours of observation.

The observatory used a Kasra telescope with a 4.3-inch aperture, equipped with a color camera and a specialized filter to reduce light pollution. Thanks to the site’s desert location and relatively dark skies, rated 6.5 on the Bortle scale, the team was able to capture even the faintest details. Observers are advised to view the final image from dark locations to fully appreciate its subtle structures.

In February, stargazing enthusiasts can spot 6 planets in this parade; however, not all of them will be visible to the naked eye. They are — Mercury, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune.

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What is a planetary parade?

A planetary parade, as the name suggests, occurs when several planets appear lined up in the sky at the same time, according to Khadijah Al Hariri, Operations Manager at Dubai Astronomy Group.

The heavenly bodies are not actually close together; they're still millions or billions of kilometres apart from each other in space. However, "from our point of view on earth, they seem to form a line across the sky," she added.

Which planets can you spot?

While 6 planets will align this time, not all of them are visible to the naked eye.

• Venus, Saturn: Can be seen with the naked eye, but they will be very low on the horizon, and set shortly after sunset. Residents would need to be ready at sunset to catch a view of these bright planets.

• Mercury: Trickier to spot because it stays very close to the horizon, and also sets shortly after sunset.

• Neptune: Sets shortly after sunset, and needs a telescope to be spotted. Sky must also be clear and dark

• Jupiter: Bright planet which will be visible later in the evening for a long period; can be seen with the naked eye

• Uranus: Will be visible for a long period during the evening; however, it can only be sighted through a telescope when skies are clear.

Tips for watching the parade

Whether you are a casual observer or an astronomy enthusiast, here are some tips to get the best view of the planetary parade, according to the DAG expert:

• First, choose a dark location with a clear view of the horizon.

• Arrive a bit early to let your eyes adjust to the darkness. Avoid looking at your phone too much, as it affects night vision.

• Bring equipment, such as binoculars or telescope, if you have them. Some planets can also be spotted by the naked eye, so fear not.

• The best time for this parade will be at or just after sunset, depending on the planets positions

• Choose locations with a clear horizon and low light pollution, like deserts, beaches, or open areas away from city lights

• Use apps like Stellarium or SkyView to find the location of the planets in the sky

"Most importantly, be patient and enjoy the experience. It’s not just about spotting planets, it’s about reconnecting with the sky above us," Khadijah said.

Is it a rare event?

The rarity of the event depends on how much planets are involved, Khadijah stressed. "Seeing three or four planets in the sky at once is not really rare".

However, when five or more planets appear together, "that’s much less common and definitely special."

Although there is no scientific connection between Ramadan and the planetary parade, it is definitely a lucky coincidence between two independent cycles.

"Planetary parades are caused by the orbital motion of the planets around the Sun, while Ramadan follows the lunar calendar, which shifts earlier each year," Khadijah said.

Shape of the parade

Although it is referred to as a parade, the planets will not form a perfect straight line in the sky. They will appear in a curved path across the sky, Khadijah said.

This curve is called the "ecliptic" which is the path that the Sun appears to take during the year. Khadijah explained why this is the case:

"All the planets in our solar system orbit the sun in nearly the same flat plane. Since earth is also in that same plane, when we look out at the sky, we see the other planets projected along that shared orbital plane, which appears to us as the curved line of the ecliptic."

Iftar under the planets

Dubai Astronomy Group will host an iftar at Al Qudra Desert, where skywatchers can enjoy a unique Ramadan night, with faith and astronomy coming together.

The event, from 6pm to 10pm on February 27, will include observation of the planets, an explanation of the science behind the Ramadan crescent sighting, and deeper understanding of the planet parade. Those interested can register on the Al Thuraya Astronomy Centre website; tickets begin from Dh180.

Workers detected a problem with helium flow to the massive SLS rocket that will "take the March launch window out of consideration," Issacman said in a post on X.

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The announcement was made by Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, UAE Minister of Sports and Chairman of UAE Space Agency, during a press conference on the latest updates on the Emirates Mars Mission (the Hope Probe).

The extension, which adds three additional years to the mission, was announced with the support of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Space Council.

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Dr Noora Al Saeed, Principal Investigator of EMM, highlighted the mission’s groundbreaking achievements, including the Hope Probe’s recent observations of Comet C/2023 A3 (Atlas), the third-known object from outside our solar system to be discovered passing through our celestial neighborhood. 

The rare discovery provides scientists with a unique opportunity to study material from another star system, as the probe captured detailed images of volatile gases ejecting from the comet as it approached the sun. 

Since entering Martian orbit in 2021, the Hope Probe has exceeded expectations by cataloguing Martian dust storms throughout an entire Martian year, discovering unexpected complex structures in the planet’s upper atmosphere, and capturing the highest-resolution images ever taken of Mars’ moon Deimos. 

The mission has collected over 10 terabytes of data which is ten times the original target of 1 terabyte, all shared freely with the international scientific community through 16 data releases.

The mission extension will enable researchers to collect additional Mars years of data, unlocking hundreds of years of potential research opportunities. 

The extended mission will focus on understanding the complex connection between Mars’ lower and upper atmospheres, with findings expected to improve atmospheric models not only for Mars but also for Earth. 

“Every additional Mars year of data that we get is going to unlock hundreds of years of research,” Dr Noora stated. 

Originally designed for one Martian year (two Earth years), the probe has now operated for five Earth years and — following technical evaluation confirming its excellent condition — will continue until 2028.

The team has also emphasised the mission’s significant national impact, noting a 31 per cent increase in STEM enrollment between 2020 and 2025, with over 35 scientific papers published and more than 250 scientific participations in international conferences. The mission has also trained 58 Emirati students through university research programmes. 

The UAE became the fifth nation to reach Mars and the second nation to succeed on its first attempt a historic achievement accomplished during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Coinciding with the UAE’s Golden Jubilee, the mission transformed the nation from a consumer of scientific data to a producer, with its findings now informing future missions including the UAE’s asteroid belt exploration project.

The sounding rocket, developed by the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), reached an altitude of 3km during a test flight over the UAE desert, validating a fully UAE-designed and operated propulsion system for the first time.

The launch took place at 12.21pm on February 13 and concluded with the rocket safely descending for recovery, completing what researchers described as the final phase of a multi-year development and testing programme. TII is the applied research arm of the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC).

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“This launch is a defining moment for science and engineering in the UAE,” said Dr Najwa Aaraj, chief executive of TII. “It demonstrates that we can lead in the development of breakthrough technologies, not only in labs, but in real-world, high-stakes environments.” She described the mission as the first step towards building a national launch capability driven by UAE-based talent.

First-of-its-kind in the UAE

At the core of the mission was a hybrid propulsion engine combining nitrous oxide with a solid polyethylene-based fuel — a system that blends elements of solid and liquid rocket technologies. Hybrid engines are widely viewed in the aerospace sector as safer and more cost-effective than traditional propulsion systems, with added advantages in handling and environmental impact.

TII said the self-pressurising design removes the need for complex ground infrastructure or cryogenic fuel handling, making it well suited for suborbital research and technology demonstration missions.

The propulsion system — including tanks, injectors, avionics and control architecture — was designed, manufactured and tested entirely within the UAE. It underwent extensive cold-flow and hot-fire ground testing before being cleared for flight.

The rocket itself was built using advanced composite manufacturing techniques similar to those used in modern aerospace programmes. Carbon-fibre materials were used for the main structure and fins to withstand flight stresses, while the nosecone was constructed from glass-fibre composites to allow uninterrupted radio and navigation signals.

Laying the groundwork for future missions

According to Dr Elias Tsoutsanis, chief researcher at TII’s Propulsion and Space Research Centre, the flight represents the transition from theoretical research to operational capability.

“This achievement is the result of years of disciplined research, engineering, and iteration,” he said. “That capability is the foundation for everything that follows — higher altitudes, heavier payloads, and more complex missions, all from the UAE.”

Sounding rockets of this class are commonly used worldwide to test propulsion, avionics and recovery systems under real flight conditions before being scaled to larger launch vehicles.

TII said the successful mission validated every stage of the launch lifecycle, from propulsion development and systems integration to countdown, lift-off and recovery, all managed by UAE-based teams.

The institute’s roadmap includes scaling up to larger motors, higher-altitude flights and more advanced flight architectures, alongside the development of national launch infrastructure and mission control capabilities.

With this launch, officials said the UAE has established a technical and operational baseline for future suborbital research missions and more advanced aerospace programmes, positioning the country as an emerging regional player in space and propulsion research.

Speaking at length about the UAE's space ambitions, Al Mansouri outlined a long-term vision anchored in the UAE’s 15-year commitment to the Lunar Gateway and its broader Mars 2117 strategy.

During a session titled The Space Silk Route: Mapping Arab Ambition at the Young Arab Leaders Forum, Al Mansouri said this next phase of exploration demands a fundamental rethink of astronaut training, international collaboration, and the integration of advanced technologies.

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“We are transitioning from the concept of temporary visits to a new stage of long-term settlement in space,” Al Mansouri said, stressing that the immense distances involved require a new class of astronaut.

Unlike the International Space Station, which orbits about 400km from Earth, the planned lunar station will be nearly 450,000km away from the Earth, he noted.

“This distance affects everything," he added. "It requires a new level of autonomy. Astronauts must have the ability to think critically and act as leaders, making crucial decisions on the lunar station without constantly referring back to ground control.”

AI and the future of space missions

Looking ahead to missions to the Moon and Mars, Al Mansouri underscored the growing role of artificial intelligence in environments where real-time communication with Earth is not possible. “We must have the ability to understand the language of AI and harness it excellently for future missions,” he said, revealing that astronauts on the ISS are already working with AI-supported models to aid in decision-making.

This vision of deep-space exploration is being reinforced by parallel efforts in the region, particularly Oman’s push to establish the Arab world’s first commercial spaceport.

Sayyid Azzan bin Qais Al Said, founder of Omani launch company ETLAQ, detailed the development of the Etlaq spaceport, which aims to provide a fast track to orbit for global satellite companies facing long delays at traditional launch sites.

He identified a critical gap in the global launch market, which is currently dominated by a few major players.

“There is a very long backlog of satellites waiting for access to orbit. We are in a fantastic position to give companies a fast track,” he said. “Right now, the US launch market controls over 90 per cent of the global launch manifest. Companies from Europe and around the world are trying to get control of their own launch destiny.”

'This is real'

He explained that the port’s strategic, near-equatorial location offers a significant advantage, and the project is about more than just launches. The vision includes a “Space Valley” in Duqm, an integrated zone to support a wide range of downstream businesses.

“The downstream ecosystem is as important as the launch itself,” he noted. “We want to see entrepreneurs, even those without a background in rocket engineering, get involved in activities like data processing, logistics, or even providing space-grade fuel. When we launch our first rocket from Duqm, it will send a message that this is real.”

Together, by combining the UAE’s deep-space scientific missions with Oman’s commercial launch infrastructure, the region is creating an end-to-end value chain to capture a significant share of the trillion-dollar global space economy.

“When you are in an international partnership, what will you contribute?” Al Mansouri asked. “Will you provide trained astronauts? Space industries? Launch platforms? You must be an active part of the system.”

This shared vision of sovereign capability and regional collaboration is essential to building a sustainable legacy and inspiring a new generation to lead in the space sector.

A video feed from NASA showed the capsule carrying American astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov and Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui land off the coast of San Diego at 12:41 am (0841 GMT).

A health issue prompted their mission to be cut short, after spending five months in space.

The US space agency has declined to disclose any details about the health issue but stressed the return was not an emergency situation.

The affected crewmember "was and continues to be in stable condition," NASA official Rob Navias said Wednesday.

Fincke, the SpaceX Crew-11 pilot, said in a social media post earlier this week: "First and foremost, we are all OK. Everyone on board is stable, safe, and well cared for."

"This was a deliberate decision to allow the right medical evaluations to happen on the ground, where the full range of diagnostic capability exists. It's the right call, even if it's a bit bittersweet."

The Crew-11 quartet arrived at the ISS in early August and had been scheduled to stay onboard the space station until they were rotated out in mid-February with the arrival of the next crew.

James Polk, NASA's chief health and medical officer, said "lingering risk" and a "lingering question as to what that diagnosis is" led to the decision to bring back the crew earlier than originally scheduled.

American astronaut Chris Williams and Russian cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, who arrived at the station in November aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, remained on the ISS.

The Russian Roscosmos space agency operates alongside NASA on the outpost, and the two agencies take turns transporting a citizen of the other country to and from the orbiter -- one of the few areas of bilateral cooperation that still endure between the United States and Russia.

Ready for the unexpected

Continuously inhabited since 2000, the International Space Station seeks to showcase multinational cooperation, bringing together Europe, Japan, the United States and Russia.

Located some 400 kilometers (248.5 miles) above Earth, the ISS functions as a testbed for research that supports deeper space exploration -- including eventual missions to return humans to the Moon and onward to Mars.

The four astronauts who were evacuated had been trained to handle unexpected medical situations, said Amit Kshatriya, a senior NASA official, praising how they have dealt with the situation.

The ISS is set to be decommissioned after 2030, with its orbit gradually lowered until it breaks up in the atmosphere over a remote part of the Pacific Ocean called Point Nemo, a spacecraft graveyard.

US astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov and Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui undocked from the ISS after five months in space.

The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule began its descent from orbit at about 5.20pm EST (2220 GMT) headed for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast around 0840 GMT on Thursday.

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The US space agency has declined to disclose which crew member has the health problem or give details about the issue, but it has stressed the return is not an emergency.

Jupiter will reach opposition on January 10, meaning it will be positioned directly opposite the Sun from Earth. During this alignment, the planet rises in the east at sunset, shines at its brightest, and appears larger and closer than at any other time of the year. According to Khadijah Hariri of the Dubai Astronomy Group (DAG), the phenomenon is among the most exciting events on the astronomical calendar.

“The planet will appear brighter, bigger, and closer to Earth than usual,” she said, adding that Jupiter’s prominent features, including its cloud bands and largest moons, become easier to observe during opposition.

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Often referred to as the largest planet in the solar system, Jupiter is more than 11 times wider than Earth and is known for its powerful magnetic field, iconic Great Red Spot, and dozens of moons. While opposition occurs roughly once every 13 months, each event provides a unique opportunity for both amateur and experienced skywatchers to appreciate the planet’s scale and brilliance.

How and where to watch

Weather and astronomy enthusiast Muhammed Sajjad, popularly known as the UAE Weatherman, explained that the event is the result of precise cosmic alignment. “Opposition happens when the Sun, Earth, and Jupiter line up perfectly, with Earth in the middle,” he said. “Because of this geometry, Jupiter reflects maximum sunlight towards us, making it brighter than any star in the night sky.”

Sajjad advised observers to begin watching shortly after sunset and look towards the eastern horizon. “You should look for a steady, creamy-coloured light that does not flicker,” he said. “It can be spotted with the naked eye, but binoculars will enhance the view. Visibility will be even better in desert areas away from city lights.”

For those seeking a deeper experience, DAG will host a ticketed public observation event at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library starting at 6.30pm. “Our goal is to make astronomy accessible to everyone,” Khadija said. “Participants will be able to observe Jupiter and its moons through telescopes while learning about the science behind this remarkable event.”

Lights will shoot across the universe, giving eager UAE residents a chance to spot meteors as they zoom past. The moon will come closer to the Earth, giving residents a close up view of our planet's only natural satellite.

Take a look at all that the celestial treats that UAE skies hold for residents this year:

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Supermoons

• Wolf Supermoon: The year is welcoming residents with a Wolf Supermoon on January 3, the first of more to come. The supermoon will coincide with the Quadrantids meteor shower, which peaks on January 3 to 4.

• Blue Micromoon: While a Blue Moon is not really blue in colour, the lunar spectacle is culturally significant. Unlike the other "supermoons", this one is a micromoon, which means it will be slightly smaller and dimmer than a typical full moon.

  Occurring on May 31, this is the second full moon that occurs within the same calendar month. A monthly blue moon happens about seven times in 19 years, and the next one will be on December 31, 2028.

• Beaver Supermoon: After Wolf Supermoon, the next supermoon will arrive after a long gap of 10 months. These late lunar events are especially bright.

• Cold Supermoon: This will be the supermoon closest to Earth, since 2019. It is also the brightest full moon of 2026.

Meteor showers

• Quadrantids: Peaking on January 3 to 4, it is one of the strongest annual meteor showers. Known for bright, fast meteors, UAE residents can watch out for a sharp peak that occurs shortly before dawn, around 2am to 3am.

  Rate: 120 meteors per hour

• Lyrids: It peaks on April 22 to 23, with a relatively slow speed of 15 to 20 meteors per hour. However, it also produces occasional fireballs, which are exceptionally bright meteors, brighter than Venus, and sometimes accompanied by sound.
   Rate: 15–20 meteors per hour

• Perseids: Peaking on August 12 and 13, it is one of the most popular meteor showers. During warm summer nights, residents can watch these meteors with their long luminous trails.
  Rate: 100 meteors per hour

• Orionids: Peaking on October 21 and 22, they are known for fast meteors best observed after midnight. The Orionids are associated with Halley's Comet.
  Rate: 20–25 meteors per hour

• Leonids: They are known for historic meteor storms, and glowing trails. The Leonids will peak on November 17 and 18. Peak: November 17–18, 2026
  Rate: 10–15 meteors per hour

• Geminids: This is widely considered the most consistent and intense meteor shower. It also often produces colourful fireballs; these peak on December 13 and 14.
  Rate: 120–150 meteors per hour

Astronomers in the UAE spent 35 hours, over the span of a month, to capture a unique image with multiple celestial objects, one of them being a 'Christmas Tree cluster'.

If you've seen Christmas Trees here on Earth, you would be able to imagine what this marvel looks like in space. Shaped just like the symbol of joy and gifting, the Christmas Tree Cluster, which was spotted with a Cone Nebula, have been are collectively designated by the astronomical identifier NGC 2264.

These wonders are located 2,300 light-years away, which means that we are seeing the light that left these objects in 275 BC, only now reaching us.

These two aren't the only astronomical wonders that experts sighted. Nearby are two other objects: the Snowflake Cluster and the Fox Fur Nebula.

Take a look at the stunning images captured in the night sky just ahead of Christmas.

First, take a closer look at the Christmas Tree Cluster and the Cone Nebula. It may be worth noting that the red and pink colors are result of the ionisation of hydrogen gas, while the blue color is produced by the ionisation of oxygen gas.

Take another look at the Cluster without the markings:

Several dark nebulae can also be seen as black patches, the clouds of gas and dust blocking the light behind them. Take a dark n

How images were captured:

Astronomers used a 108mm refractor telescope, colour camera, and a light-pollution filter. Experts also spent a total imaging time of 35 hours, consisting of 421 exposures, each 5 minutes long.

The experts at the observatory site were:

• Imaging: Mohammad Ouda

• Image processing: Haitham Hamdi

• Observatory team: Osama Ghannam, Anas Mohammad, Khalfan Al Nuaimi

“Our job is to make astronautics and space the new aviation,” Malkawi told Khaleej Times. He explained that shortly after the first airplane took off — which was still very expensive and inaccessible — demand rose and flights soon became more common.

He is trying to achieve the same with space flight, after the first commercial spacecraft took off. In June 2023, Virgin Galactic successfully launched the first commercial on a suborbital ride, 80km above ground. “My job is to make sure that space is as common as aviation, but you got to build an infrastructure for that,” Malkawi noted.

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According to the Space Foundation, a nonprofit organisation, the global space economy reached revenues of US$570 billion in 2023 and as of July 2024, commercial revenues account for almost 80 per cent of industry activity. PwC reported that the global space economy may grow to around $2 trillion (Dhs 7 trillion) by 2040.

Blinc, which is based in Abu Dhabi, also focuses on astronaut training, human spaceflight experiences, and education. It also has strong roots in Steam, (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) education, particularly for underserved communities in the Mena region.

On Sunday, Blinc conducted its first test flight in the UAE in partnership with ActionFlight Ras Al Khaimah, which offers advanced aviation experiences. One of these is the G-force aerobatic flight, designed to simulate the physical forces astronauts experience during launch and re-entry.

During the flight, a person can experience up to four and a half Gs, meaning the body temporarily feels several times heavier than its actual weight. “Imagine having to endure that pressure while still needing to perform tasks,” Malkawi said, adding that this type of training is essential for astronauts in training.

Why did Blinc choose the UAE?

Malkawi noted that outside of the Americas, Europe, Russia, and parts of Asia, space programmes remain limited, leaving a gap in the Middle East. “The UAE has the vision, the leadership, and the infrastructure to make this happen,” he said.

He also highlighted the country’s natural landscape. According to Malkawi, soil found in certain areas of the UAE is ideal for planetary geology training and is even preferable to soil found in Arizona, where Nasa astronauts traditionally conduct geological research.“This is one of the reasons former Nasa leadership and astronauts have visited the UAE to explore training opportunities here,” he said.

Blinc plans to operate across multiple locations in the country, with classrooms in Abu Dhabi, analog astronaut experiences in Sharjah, underwater spacesuit simulations in Dubai, and aviation and G-force training in Ras Al Khaimah.

Steam philanthropy

Before astronaut training centres and commercial spaceflight, BLINC began as a philanthropic initiative. Founded in 2015, the organisation initially focused on bringing STEAM education to refugee camps and underserved communities, providing access to scientific tools, laboratories, and mentorship.

After sunset, the crescent may be seen with telescopes in parts of Africa and South America, and with the naked eye in western South America and the Pacific.

In a post on social media platform X, Astronomy Centre noted that since there is a possibility of crescent visibility in some Islamic countries, some Islamic calendars are marking Sunday (December 21) as the first day of Rajab. However, the official start of the month is determined by local authorities after reviewing crescent sighting reports.

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Will Rajab 1447 crescent be visible in the UAE?

Astronomy Centre highlighted that crescent sighting won't be possible in cities such as Jakarta, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Amman, Jerusalem, Cairo, and Rabat due to the moon setting shortly after sunset. However, in Mizambique's Maputo, sighting is possible with a telescope since the moon sets 39 minutes after sunset, age 16 hours 8 minutes,.

Check out the surface calculations at sunset as shared by Astronomy Centre:

• Jakarta: Moon sets 18 minutes after sunset, age 11 hours 16 minutes.

• Abu Dhabi: Moon sets 10 minutes after sunset, age 13 hours 30 minutes.

• Riyadh: Moon sets 11 minutes after sunset, age 13 hours 55 minutes.

• Amman & Jerusalem: Moon sets 8 minutes after sunset, age 14 hours 9 minutes.

• Cairo: Moon sets 10 minutes after sunset, age 14 hours 24 minutes.

• Rabat: Moon sets 12 minutes after sunset, age 16 hours 3 minutes.

The Astronomy Centre noted that the minimum crescent visibility values are as follows:

• Minimum time the crescent must remain above the horizon to be visible with the naked eye: 29 minutes.

• Minimum age of the crescent for naked-eye visibility: 15 hours 33 minutes.

Simply exceeding these values does not guarantee visibility, as crescent sighting also depends on angular distance from the sun and altitude above the horizon at the time of observation.

In a social media post, Astronomy Centre also confirmed that the central lunar conjunction will occur on the same day at 01.43 GMT (5.43am UAE time). A central lunar conjunction refers to the moment when the Moon, the Sun, and the Earth line up in a nearly perfect straight line, with the Moon in the middle. This astronomical event is also known as the New Moon phase. 

More than 300 residents showed up to the event organised by the Dubai Astronomy Group on Saturday night, where 'blink and you’ll miss it' was truly the motto of the meteors. As flashes of light streaked across the cosmos, the crowd erupted in unison with exclamations of delight — and sighs of disappointment for those who happened to look away for a second.

Russian expat Natalia's family were, in a manner of speaking, in those very skies just hours ago. Her husband and kids made their way to the desert straight from Dubai airport, having flown in from London a few hours prior.

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"My granddad was an astronomer, so the stars were always an important part of growing up," said Natalia, who moved to the UAE in 2022. "I wanted to pass on that same heritage and love for the unknown to my children."

While there have been plenty of meteor showers in the UAE, they often took place when her husband and kids, who live in the UK, were away. This time, the stars did align in a "lucky coincidence" for the family.

Several families turned out in similar fashion, with parents eager to pass on a passion for space to their kids. Indian-French siblings Riya and Rithi were among those who had their gaze fixed on the sky, and their ears tuned to the mythological stories behind the shower.

Two years ago, the family had made their way to Al Qudra to watch a meteor show on their own. When they heard of the event organised by Dubai Astronomy Group, they decided to make the trip in a quest to not just sight the lights, but also gain more knowledge.

"One of the reasons why I want the kids to gain some interest in astronomy is so they realise that the problems we have are so small, as compared to the vastness of the universe," their mother, Supriya Aggarwal, said. For their father, Raja Aggarwal, it was also about "making memories as a family".

Riya and Rithi were thrilled to hold an actual meteorite "from literally out of the world", handed out by DAG. According to the group, the meteorite (see below) is millions of years old and worth thousands of dirhams.

Chinese expat Ivan is just three months into living in the UAE. After having worked in China as an amateur astronomer for over 10 years and who organised space events of his own there, one of the things on his 'moving to-do list' was to find a similar experience in Dubai, he said.

Ivan came to Al Qudra for the Geminids on both days of the event, and was one of the first to arrive at the spot. "I have never done something like this so far from the city," Ivan said. In China, events like this were often held in mountains or just in the city outskirts, he said.

The 30-year-old Chinese expat was in awe of the large scale of the event in Dubai, and the palpable excitement in the air. He echoed the sentiment of being constantly being amazed by the universe, and reminded of "how small we are".

The meteors are "timeless", Ivan added, describing them as travellers who came a very long distance to meet humans.

The Geminids shower is not just about the viewers; it's also about the volunteers who put in considerable efforts behind the scenes to enlighten audiences with interesting scientific facts and age-old legends, help them set up camp, and take memorable photos.

Twelve-year-old Safiya has been volunteering with Dubai Astronomy Group for "the past 4 or 5 years". The young enthusiast can be found at the check-in desk, assisting those who registered with their wrist bands, and event information; she may also be found helping set up snacks at the cafe.

With her parents working at DAG, volunteering at space events is the perfect outing for the 12-year-old who is fascinated by Greek mythology, and the stories behind the skies.

For David, a 16-year-old volunteer who now studies astrophysics, working with the telescopes and watching people search the skies for the first time is always rewarding.

"When I see them looking at the sky for the first time, it reminds me of the first time I viewed the skies through a telescope," he explained. David also experiments with astrophotography, both with shots of the moon, and deep-sky objects.

With academics taking up his week, he volunteers on weekends. It is not without hurdles; long queues and cloudy weather can prove challenging to astrophotography, David said. The planet Jupiter is particularly difficult to capture, he added.

While photographic telescopes capture deep-sky objects with multiple images stacked together, to get more light and detailing, astrophotography enthusiasts can also take pictures on their phone through observational telescopes, David said. (See this reporter's shot below of a nebula, for example!)

To do so, night mode must be turned on, and the shot must last for around 30 seconds. The phone must be kept steady.

The Geminids meteor shower, one of the strongest of the year, was captured last night (December 13-14) by the UAE Meteor and Meteorite Observation Network.

Three stations across different locations in the Abu Dhabi desert captured more than 2,000 images of meteors streaking across the skies of the Emirates. Each station is equipped with 17 highly sensitive low-light video cameras. These cameras can detect meteors as faint as magnitude 6.5.

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From these images, the network successfully calculated the trajectories of 401 meteors as they entered Earth’s atmosphere. Determining these orbits reveals the original trajectory of the dust particles around the Sun before they collided with Earth. This process requires the same meteor to be photographed from multiple stations, enabling triangulation to calculate its orbital elements.

After imaging, the stations automatically analyse the brightness and trajectory of each meteor and transmit the data to an astronomical centre in the US. This effort is part of an international collaboration involving similar networks worldwide under Nasa’s supervision.

The images also feature prominent celestial objects such as the Orion, Taurus, Gemini constellations, the Pleiades cluster, Jupiter, and the Moon. Some frames even captured airplanes and multiple meteors simultaneously. Each image was taken with an exposure time of eight seconds.

The satellite, called Arab Satellite 813, is the first Arab satellite to feature hyperspectral imaging technology.

The name '813' commemorates the year associated with the rise of the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, a period considered a symbol of scientific progress in the Arab world. The mission aims to revive that spirit of regional collaboration by bringing together Arab engineers under one unified project for the first time.

This tech offers unprecedented capabilities to study environmental and climatic systems and monitor changes across Earth’s surface. Launching this satellite will help develop the skills of young Arab engineers and scientists in space science and technology.

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It aims to support research centres and advanced platforms for testing and developing space technologies with the participation of Arab experts.

The launch also aims to support collaboration among Arab countries through joint space projects within the Arab Space Cooperation Group. It also aims to support Sustainable Development goals (SDG) through Earth-observation technologies.

The Director of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, Salem Al Marri, congratulated the team behind the launch, saying. "Congratulations to the UAE Space Agency and the National Space Science and Technology Centre on the successful launch of Arab Satellite 813. This mission, created for all Arabs, marks another important step towards a future defined by collaboration and growth across the space sector in our region.'

The trials were carried out in partnership with Firefly Aerospace as part of preparations for the rover’s launch aboard the Blue Ghost Mission 2 lander in 2026. Engineers conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the rover’s electrical, software, and mechanical interfaces with Firefly’s Blue Ghost lander.

The team also tested wireless communication between both systems and ran deployment and drive-off simulations to confirm the rover can be safely released and operated on the lunar surface in different scenarios. Officials said the successful tests strengthen confidence in the mission’s readiness and validate the integration of the rover with the commercial lander.

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Dr Hamad AlMarzooqi, Project Manager, Emirates Lunar Mission, MBRSC, said, “These latest tests mark an important milestone to ensure a seamless integration between the rover and the lander systems. Our joint efforts with Firefly Aerospace are guided by a shared focus on precision and innovation, ensuring the mission’s scientific and technical goals are achieved with the highest reliability standards. Rashid Rover 2 embodies the dedication of our engineers and the UAE’s continued drive to contribute to global lunar exploration through purposeful, knowledge-led progress.”

Rashid Rover 2 to land on the far side of the moon

The UAE’s lunar rover will be deployed on the far side of the Moon, the hemisphere always turned away from Earth with rugged terrain and a thicker crust.

Rashid Rover 2 will travel to the Moon with international payloads from Australia, the European Space Agency (ESA), and NASA. The mission is part of Firefly Aerospace’s second lunar landing attempt, following Blue Ghost Mission 1 in March 2025, which was the first successful commercial landing on the Moon.

Once deployed, the UAE-built rover, equipped with cameras and scientific instruments, will study the Moon’s plasma environment, geology, soil properties, surface temperatures, and the lunar photoelectron sheath. The data is expected to support future in-situ resource use and guide deeper space exploration.

Farah Zuberi, Director of Spacecraft Mission Management at Firefly Aerospace, said, “Firefly is proud to onboard the MBRSC Rashid Rover 2 on Blue Ghost Mission 2, which has evolved into an international mission representing countries across the globe. Now that the rover has been successfully delivered and tested in our cleanroom, we’re one step closer to deploying the rover on the lunar surface and unlocking new insights on the far side of the Moon.”

The UAE's first lunar spacecraft, Rashid Rover 1, was launched from Cape Canaveral on December 11, 2022. Its deployment on the Moon did not happen on April 25, 2023 as the Hakuto-R Mission 1, the Japanese lunar lander carrying it, failed to achieve a soft landing.

At approximately 5.48pm on December 5, the moon will rise directly over the iconic Meydan grandstand, offering a dramatic view of the horizon rarely seen in an urban environment. This has never happened before during a major horse racing event in the UAE, according to Dubai Racing Club (DRC).

A supermoon occurs when the moon reaches its closest point to Earth while full, making it appear noticeably larger and brighter than usual. To celebrate this celestial occasion, DRC has partnered with the Dubai Astronomy Group to elevate the experience for racing aficionados.

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Guests in the Paddock Garden will enjoy access to telescopes and expert guidance from astronomy specialists, allowing them to observe the phenomenon while also enjoying the race-night atmosphere.

Sophie Ryan, DRC head of corporate communications, marketing and brand, said: “As the final supermoon of 2025, this marks the closing chapter of the year’s major lunar moments. We are delighted to collaborate with Dubai Astronomy Group to create an unforgettable experience for both astronomy enthusiasts and racing fans alike."

The Paddock Garden features some of Dubai’s most popular culinary concepts, including Little Fox by Rowley’s, SALT, McGettigan’s, Yamanote Atelier, and more. Tickets to the Paddock Garden are priced at Dh75 and are available at dubairacingclub.com.

Gates open at 4pm on Friday, and the first race will start at 5:30pm.

As the world enters the last quarter of 2025, UAE residents can look forward to three supermoons in three months, including the biggest one of the year.

The lunar events will offer stargazers in the Emirates an easily accessible celestial treat, as the moon will be visible from anywhere with a clear horizon. A supermoon occurs when a full moon occurs at the same time that the moon is at its closest point to earth, according to Khadijah Al Hariri, operations manager at Dubai Astronomy Group.

The moon will appear 14 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter, but that's not the only spectacle that the universe has scheduled for the upcoming months.

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UAE skies will also light up with nature's explosions – three significant meteor showers will make an appearance, with each offering different highlights: speed, brightness, quantity.

Supermoons

The first celestial spectacle will occur on October 7, when Hunter's Supermoon will fill up UAE skies. After last month's lunar eclipse, social media was filled with a flurry of photos of the lunar landscape.

For those who missed out on the eclipse, lunar events are plenty this last quarter. Although the moon is our one and only natural satellite, it will be known by different names in the next few months. As worship and a respect for nature was a huge part of native American traditions, most of the names come from their culture, with the Moon's appearance tied to seasonal events.

Here's when they can be observed, what they will be called each month, and what these names mean:

• October 7, Hunter’s Moon: This name comes from the time of year when animals are well-fed and hunters traditionally stored up meat for the coming winter.

• November 5, Beaver Moon: It coincides with the time when beavers begin preparing for winter and building their lodges. In the past, it was also the time when trappers set beaver traps before the swamps froze. This is the biggest and brightest supermoon of the year.

• December 5, Cold Moon: The name is pretty straightforward; the name comes from the simple fact that December brings the longest, coldest nights of the year

Tips to watch the supermoon

As the moon looks the biggest to viewers on Earth when its low on the horizon, watch out for the lunar event at moonrise (just after sunset) or moonset (before sunrise), Khadijah said.

With no equipment needed, UAE residents can simply visit an open area unobstructed by light pollution, such as deserts, beaches, or high terrain, and look to the skies. However, it is necessary to keep safety precautions in mind, and go with big groups of people when visiting remote areas.

Astrophotography enthusiasts should position the moon near landmarks such as mountains, buildings or trees, adjust exposure to avoid overexposed white discs, Khadijah said. It is also advisable to use a tripod for a steady camera, and a zoom lens.

Meteor showers

Streaks of colour will paint the sky as comet and asteroid dust enter Earth's atmosphere, with the impact creating a natural light show. In the last quarter of 2025, UAE will witness three meteor showers.

To watch meteor showers, residents can find a dark sky away from city lights, and a lot of patience, as there's no telling where or when exactly the meteors will appear. Stargazers can also bring a blanket or mats to lie down and "look up at the widest possible view of the sky," Khadijah said.

October 21, Orionids Meteor Shower

The shower originates from the famous Halley's Comet, and is known for producing bright, fast meteors. The Orionids often leave glowing trails in the sky, as they go at speeds of up to 66km per second, DAG said.

The meteors can be best seen on the night of October 21 to 22, after midnight, until dawn. The shower creates up to 20 meteors per hour.

November 17, Leonids Meteor Shower

This shower is known for its legendary meteor storms, which can create up to thousand meteors per hour. However, this is rare; in 2025, UAE residents will only see around 10 to 15 meteors per hour, Khadijah clarified.

The Leonids, which originate from Comet Tempel-Tuttle, leave persistent trains and will be best viewed after midnight.

December 12 to 13, Geminids Meteor Shower

With just a little over two weeks left to go for 2026, the UAE skies will wrap up 2025 with one of the strongest showers of the year, which can produce over 100 meteors per hour in ideal conditions.

Unlike the other showers, the Geminids originates from asteroid 3200 Phaethon, not a comet. They are bright, and often coloured yellow, green, blue, or red, due to their mineral content, according to DAG.

UAE residents can see as many as up to 120 meteors per hour, and the Geminids are known for moving slowly, so stargazers are more likely to catch them streaking across.

The Great Red Spot, a massive swirling oval of clouds twice the width of Earth, has been visible on Jupiter for more than 300 years. Data from Juno mission of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) in 2021 revealed that Jupiter’s storms are far deeper than previously thought.

According to Nasa, some storms reach 100km (60 miles) below the cloud tops, while others, including the Great Red Spot itself extends more than 350km (over 200 miles) into the planet’s atmosphere.

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In photos shared by the Astronomy Centre, the planets appear remarkably crisp — with subtle textures, bright spots and swirling contours captured in striking clarity.

The images, taken during the transit of their moons, were shot on Sunday night (November 30) from the Oukaimeden Astronomical Observatory in Morocco.

Check out the images below:

This isn’t the first time the region has witnessed impressive celestial phenomena. On March 23 of this year, UAE astronomers captured a vivid sighting of Venus in its crescent phase. Like the Moon, Venus cycles through several phases — from crescent to gibbous to nearly full — depending on its position relative to Earth and the Sun.

That same morning, at 9.18am, Venus reached surface conjunction as seen from the UAE, a phenomenon in which celestial bodies appear close together from Earth’s perspective despite being far apart in space. During this event, Venus — usually located between Earth and the Sun — appeared as a thin crescent. Because of the tilt of its orbit, it sat 8.4 degrees away from the Sun instead of crossing directly in front of it.

This year has already offered sky-watchers several highlights. Earlier, a planetary parade saw four planets, including Venus, visible to the naked eye, with Uranus and Neptune observable through telescopes.

And rare alignments are not new: In April 2022, for the first time in a millennium, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn appeared in a straight line in the eastern sky for nearly an hour before sunrise — a celestial arrangement noted by experts as a once-in-1,000-years sight.

In April 2022, After 1,000 years, a rare and unique astronomical event will take place during the last week of April when four planets including Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will align in a straight line in the eastern sky for around one hour before the sunrise.

Their study shows that this distant world has a very dramatic atmosphere, with different regions having very different temperatures. One part is so extremely hot that water molecules actually get torn apart.

The planet, known as WASP-18b, is located about 400 light years from Earth. “Rotating around its star nearly 20 times closer than Mercury to our Sun and completing its orbit in less than a day, this planet reaches temperatures around 3,500°C, making it one of the exoplanets with the most extreme atmospheric conditions we have studied to date,” said NYUAD Research Scientist Jasmina Blecic, who was part of the international astronomers.

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Exoplanets are planets that orbit stars outside of our own solar system. They are also called extrasolar planets. Some exoplanets are "rogue planets" that float freely in space without orbiting a star.

How does 3D mapping help scientists?

Using a new technique called 3D eclipse mapping, scientists used data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to build a detailed temperature map of the planet’s atmosphere.

The method works by studying tiny changes in light when the planet moves behind its star. These small shifts help scientists identify differences in brightness linked to various parts of the atmosphere. By examining the light in multiple wavelengths, the team was able to reconstruct a 3D map showing temperature changes across latitude, longitude, and altitude.

The results show a circular “hotspot” on the side of the planet that always faces its star, surrounded by a cooler ring at the edges. In this hottest zone, researchers found clear signs that water vapor is breaking apart — a process that had been predicted but is now directly confirmed.

“This marks an important step toward understanding exoplanetary atmospheres in multi dimensions,” said Blecic. “Our work with JWST data allows us to observe how heat and chemistry interact under these extreme conditions, bringing us closer to understanding the diversity of planetary systems beyond our own.”

“We can now begin to view exoplanet atmospheres in 3D, much like how telescopes once revealed Jupiter’s storms and cloud bands,” said Ryan Challener, a postdoctoral associate at Cornell University and the paper’s lead author.

The study builds on earlier 2D mapping work by the same team, which first showed how powerful eclipse mapping can be using JWST observations. The new 3D approach will help scientists study many more of the thousands of known exoplanets with far greater detail.

“We are implementing AI for image classification and data compression inside the lander,” he said. “This will reduce the bandwidth needed to send data back to the ground.” He explained that the spacecraft will use machine learning to filter and prioritise images, choosing the most valuable ones to transmit during the mission’s eight-year journey.

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The UAE’s Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt will travel more than five billion kilometres and study seven asteroids before attempting a landing on the final target. Because of the extreme distance from Earth, real time communication is not possible.

“Everything related to deep space missions is autonomous,” Tsoutsanis said. “We do not have the luxury of time for commands to be transmitted from the ground. Autonomy is necessary because of the communication delays between Earth and the spacecraft.”

He said the same technologies are being used in other UAE missions, including the lunar rover project with the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre.

Alongside onboard AI, Tsoutsanis said the team is also developing engineering tools that simulate orbital dynamics and flight conditions to support mission planning. “By developing AI systems, we can reduce the time mission planning usually takes,” he said.

Propulsion for deep space

Tsoutsanis said the next generation of deep space propulsion will combine chemical and electric systems, including the UAE’s asteroid mission. Chemical propulsion will be used for high thrust manoeuvres, while electric propulsion will handle small adjustments over long distances.

“The future is going to be a combination of electric propulsion for small and fast adjustments and chemical propulsion systems for high thrust when we need significant moves in space,” he said.

He added that the space industry is shifting toward green propellants to replace toxic chemical fuels. “We want to encourage the use of green propellant technologies,” he said. “Electric propulsion systems are powered by the sun and can run for thousands of hours, which is ideal for long deep space missions.”

Mission background

The UAE announced earlier that the Explorer will operate for eight years and attempt a landing on its final asteroid target. The spacecraft will study the composition, behaviour and structure of multiple bodies in the asteroid belt.

Yesterday, mission officials confirmed the spacecraft will rotate for about five years before its landing attempt.

This mission will be the Arab world’s most ambitious deep space project to date, following the UAE’s Mars Hope probe and the Rashid lunar rover.

Experts highlighted this trend during a session titled, Forging new frontiers through global partnerships, on Day 2 of the Dubai Airshow.

Salem Butti Al Qubaisi Director General at UAE space Agency emphasised that is driven by the country’s fast-growing space ambitions and a new wave of interest among youth and universities.

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As the UAE charts its next steps — including ambitions toward the Moon — experts underlined that space law will be essential in guiding political, commercial and international cooperation.

Butti pointed out that the discipline has moved from obscurity into mainstream curricula, marking a key shift in how the region prepares for the future of the space economy.

Meeting new industry needs

The UAE’s expanding space sector has triggered a ripple effect across higher education institutions, with universities rushing to introduce programmes that respond to new industry needs.

“We saw a lot of engagement from universities to take part in developing new disciplines that they are teaching that is related directly to space,” he official. “For the first time, space law — a discipline that was maybe not so famous — is now taught and has a degree in one of our universities.”

Mike Gold, President Civil and International Space – Redwire Space added, “I always say the engineers have the easy job. There’s no rocket equation for politics or commerce — the lawyer has the tough job.”

Inspiring the next generation

Officials underlined that this shift is being propelled by the growing visibility of astronauts and the inspiration they bring to young people.

One initiative, similar in spirit to earlier Russian Space Center programmes, regularly opens astronaut schedules for student engagement — something currently done in the UAE. “It’s aligned with many of the initiatives that our leadership has for the Arab group,” Butti said. These interactions, he noted, have had a powerful effect on youth. “They see the impact that reaching space needs a lot of work. They need to be ready to sacrifice, gain a lot of knowledge, and empower themselves if they want to partake in the space economy.”

The result is a surge in demand for skills that go beyond engineering — including governance, regulation, policy, and legal expertise. As countries invest in lunar missions and prepare for complex international collaborations, legal frameworks around space activity have become increasingly critical, pushing universities to innovate.

Officials highlighted how this evolution is already shaping career aspirations across the region. Gold recalled visiting Riyadh, where a Saudi astronaut was stopped repeatedly for photographs. “It shows how inspirational these figures are — and how that translates into real interest in the workforce of the future.”

Other experts also underscored how space has shifted from being a nice extra or a 1960s-style moon race to something essential to daily life.

Chris White-Horne, Deputy CEO- UK Space Agency said, “Space is no longer a luxury, a novelty, or just a race to the Moon. It has become a critical part of modern society. It brings immense benefits, but also new vulnerabilities and threats. As a global community, we have a shared resposibility to address this — it’s not ‘them,’ it’s all of us working together to find the solutions.”

The UAE will once again fly to the moon in less than a year from now, Salem Humaid AlMarri, Director-General of Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), said on Monday during day 1 of Dubai Airshow 2025.

Speaking at a session titled Stories Beyond Earth, Al Marri said Emirates Lunar Mission’s Rashid Rover 2 is set for launch on the far side of the Moon in 2026. No date has been confirmed yet but Al Marri said Rashid Rover 2 will be carried by American aerospace company Firefly Aerospace.

He added engineers at MBRSC completed building and testing Rashid Rover 2, and it has been dispatched to US for its next phase.

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The UAE’s lunar rover will be deployed on the far side of the Moon, which is the hemisphere always turned away from Earth that has rugged terrain and a thicker crust.

The UAE’s first lunar spacecraft, Rashid Rover 1 was launched from Cape Canaveral on December 11, 2022. Its deployment on the Moon, however, on April 25, 2023 did not materialise after Hakuto-R Mission 1, the Japanese-made lunar lander carrying it, failed to accomplish a soft landing on the lunar surface.

The spacecraft built by private company Ispace was few moments away from touchdown when the ground control team in Tokyo lost communication with it. Measuring only 70cm X 50cm X 50m and weighing approximately 10kg with payload, Rashid Rover 1 would have made the distinction of being the smallest lunar rover to have landed on the Moon. That would have also made the UAE and Japanese company Ispace jointly only the fourth country and private entity that would have landed on the Moon, after the US, former Soviet Union and China.

Inside Blue Ghost lander

This time, Rashid Rover 2 will be carried to the lunar surface by Firefly’s Blue Ghost lander. Rashid Rover 2 will join Firefly’s second lunar mission in 2026 in addition to payloads from Australia, the European Space Agency, and NASA as part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative.

According to American aerospace company Firefly, during Blue Ghost Mission 2 operations, Firefly’s Elytra vehicle will first deploy the Blue Ghost lander and the European Space Agency’s Lunar Pathfinder satellite in lunar orbit. Blue Ghost will then touch down on the far side of the Moon to deliver Rashid Rover 2, as well as Australia’s Fleet Space SPIDER payload, and NASA’s LuSEE-Night radio telescope and User Terminal. Elytra will remain in lunar orbit to provide long-haul communications and enable radio frequency calibration services

Dimitra Atri, principal investigator at NYU Abu Dhabi’s Space Exploration Laboratory, noted: “Our findings show that Mars didn’t simply go from wet to dry. Even after its lakes and rivers disappeared, small amounts of water continued to move underground, creating protected environments that could have supported microscopic life.”

Where there is water, there is life and samples of microscopic life — Atri explained to Khaleej Times — which “are very small life forms such as bacteria that can only be seen by a microscope.”

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The NYUAD study — published on Monday in the Journal of Geophysical Research–Planets — shows that ancient sand dunes in Mars' Gale Crater, a region explored by NASA’s Curiosity rover, gradually turned into rock after interacting with underground water billions of years ago.

Atri, together with research assistant Vignesh Krishnamoorthy and other NYUAD researchers, compared data from the Curiosity rover, which has been exploring Mars since 2012, with rock formations in the UAE desert (including Liwa, Al Wathba, Hatta) that formed under similar conditions on Earth.

They found that water from a nearby Martian mountain once seeped into the dunes through tiny cracks, soaking the sand from below and leaving behind minerals such as gypsum, the same mineral found in Earth’s deserts. These minerals can trap and preserve traces of organic material, making them valuable targets for future missions seeking evidence of past life.

“Based on our studies, we concluded that there was water below the surface of Mars, even when the surface was dry,” Arti told Khaleej Times on Wednesday.

Key point

Simply put, the key point of the study proves that water interactions with dunes could be prime targets for the search for life on Mars.

In their report, the NYUAD team noted: “Ancient Mars had stable and abundant aqueous environments; however, due to the gradual loss of most of its atmosphere, the environment evolved into cold and dry landscapes that we see today.

“The surface of Mars shows signs of wet and dry environments as captured by NASA's Curiosity rover. We investigated the solidified dunes in the Stimson formation of the Gale crater. Using data from various instruments on the rover, we studied the interaction between dry aeolian environments with groundwater and surface water, along with complementary field studies in the UAE. We found that water interactions with dunes could be prime targets for the search for life on Mars.”

Arti further explained: “We found that water from below the surface can climb up and solidify the dunes. We found evidence of that in the UAE desert and we conducted experiments in our lab to demonstrate the mechanism.”

“There is a possibility that life could have existed on Mars in the past or at present below the surface. We have yet to explore what lies below the surface. Based on our estimates, conditions are suitable for extremophiles (organisms surviving in extreme conditions) to survive in such an environment,” he underscored.

“Conditions were right for microbial life to survive on Mars but no mission has used a drill to dig below the surface and find out,” Arti continued, noting: “There is a European ExoMars mission and Chinese Tianwen-3 mission, both of them plan to study the subsurface region of Mars. Both missions are scheduled to launch in 2028.”

The centre said the Emirates Lunar Mission’s rover successfully completed a series of environmental and functional tests in the UAE, marking the end of its development phase. It will now undergo launch preparations with Firefly Aerospace ahead of a mission to the far side of the Moon in 2026.

The mission follows a strategic agreement signed earlier this year between MBRSC and Firefly Aerospace, under which the company will provide the lunar lander to deploy the rover.

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The testing campaign included Thermal Vacuum testing hosted by the French space agency CNES in Toulouse, followed by verification and validation activities in the UAE. Engineers conducted solar panel performance tests, antenna and robotic arm deployment under simulated lunar gravity, and vibration tests to replicate the stresses of launch, deceleration, and landing.

“These tests represent the final steps in the current phase of validating the rover’s readiness for the challenging lunar environment and the completion of its development,” MBRSC said.

Hamad Obaid AlMansoori, chairman of MBRSC, said the completion of Rashid Rover 2’s development “stands as a testament to our nation’s advancing capabilities in space science and technology”, adding that each milestone moves the mission closer to its objective on the far side of the Moon.

Salem Humaid AlMarri, director general of MBRSC, said the rover’s completion is “a decisive step in advancing the UAE’s ambitions for lunar exploration”, noting that the mission enters a frontier “few have explored”.

Project manager Hamad AlMarzooqi said the successful tests ensure the rover’s resilience and readiness for the journey ahead, with the team focused on validating every subsystem and achieving the mission’s scientific objectives.

"We're going to have a space race in regard to American companies competing to see who can actually get us back to the Moon first," NASA administrator Sean Duffy said on Fox News. "I'm in the process of opening that contract up. I think we'll see companies like Blue get involved, and maybe others."

Blue Origin is the Jeff Bezos-founded rival of SpaceX. That company currently has the contract for the fifth planned mission of the multibillion-dollar Artemis program.

"I love SpaceX. It's an amazing company. The problem is, they're behind. They pushed their timelines out and we're in a race against China," Duffy, who is also the US transportation secretary, said.

"The president and I want to get to the Moon in this president's term, so I'm going to open up the contract."

The US space agency's Artemis programme hopes to return humans to the Moon as China forges ahead with a rival effort that is targeting 2030 at the latest for its first crewed mission.

US President Donald Trump's second term in the White House has seen the administration pile pressure on NASA to accelerate its progress.

Duffy later said on X that the US is "in a race against China so we need the best companies to operate at a speed that gets us to the Moon FIRST." 

SpaceX currently has the contract, he said, but "competition and innovation are the keys to our dominance in space."

Trump, who announced the Artemis programme during his first term, wants the US space agency to return to the Moon as soon as possible and also voyage to Mars.

Multiple setbacks have delayed a manned mission to voyage to the Moon — but not land — known as Artemis 2, but NASA said recently it is scheduled for April 2026 and could come as soon as February.

"We intend to keep that commitment," said Lakiesha Hawkins, a top NASA official, at a press briefing last month.

Three US astronauts and one Canadian comprise the Artemis 2 crew, which is expected to be the first to fly by the Moon in more than half a century. 

The 250-newton engine, developed by the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), underwent more than 50 firings, reaching 94 per cent combustion efficiency and performance level usually associated with long-established space programmes.

“The first successful ignition was an unforgettable moment for everyone involved,” said Dr Elias Tsoutsanis, chief researcher at TII’s Propulsion and Space Research Centre. “When the countdown reached zero, everyone stopped breathing. For the engineers, especially the Emirati team members, it was a source of pride and validation.”

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Nearly half the core team were Emirati engineers, responsible for thermal and structural simulations, injector design, and testing protocols — all critical to ensuring the engine’s performance and safety. “We grew up watching launches on TV,” one Emirati engineer recalled. “Seeing our own design ignite is something we’ll never forget.”

The 250-newton thruster produces enough force to lift 25kg on Earth. Engines of this class are commonly used for small satellite propulsion, orbital adjustments, and other manoeuvres that keep spacecraft stable in orbit.

The project places the UAE among a handful of countries with verified liquid propulsion design capabilities, alongside US, China, Russia, India, Japan, and members of the European Space Agency.

Engineering without local infrastructure

The main challenge for the team was the absence of local test facilities. To overcome it, engineers built custom cold-flow rigs in Abu Dhabi and worked with Airborne Engineering in the UK for hot-fire trials.

“The most significant challenge was the absence of dedicated test infrastructure in the UAE,” said Dr Tsoutsanis. “The team addressed this by developing deployable testing systems and performing the live firings abroad.”

A static-fire test rig is now under construction in Abu Dhabi and is expected to be completed in 2026, when the UAE will conduct its first rocket engine firing on home soil. The new facility will support engines up to five times more powerful than the current model.

“The first firing of a 1-kilonewton-class engine on Emirati soil is planned for later that same year,” Dr Tsoutsanis confirmed.

Next steps in propulsion research

Following the successful ignition, the roadmap includes scaling propulsion systems, developing cryogenic engines, and expanding research into technologies for orbital and deep-space operations.

“This engine is more than a technical success — it is the start of a capability that will enable the UAE to design, test, and deploy propulsion systems for future missions,” said Dr Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII.

For the engineers involved, the project’s impact extended beyond the data. The ignition marked the culmination of years of design, simulation, and problem-solving.

“This project shows how far we’ve come as engineers,” said one Emirati researcher. “It’s a small engine by global standards, but for us, it’s the first step in something much larger.”

For the uninitiated, an exoplanet is a planet that orbits a star outside the solar system.

Celebrating the World Space Week at the Sharjah Science Museum, a session titled 'Exploring humanity’s potential beyond Earth and the challenges of life in space' saw experts converge in the museum to discuss breakthroughs in space research, the future of human habitation beyond Earth, and the UAE’s growing role in advancing space exploration and astrobiology.

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New discoveries

Recently, astronomers confirmed a planet called 'L 98-59 f', orbiting a red dwarf about 35 light-years from Earth. They found it lies in its star’s “habitable zone” — the region where, under the right conditions, liquid water could exist.

Another world, 'K2-18 b', has been studied with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Scientists have detected chemicals in its atmosphere — including dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) — molecules on Earth associated with marine microbes. These are considered potential biosignatures.

However, the evidence is still preliminary; alternative non-biological explanations are possible, and the statistical confidence does not yet reach fully conclusive levels.

Can humans live on an exoplanet?

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Ammar Eissa Mohammed, Director of the Astronomical Observatories Department at Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology, said, "When we move from the familiar planets of the solar system to exoplanetary systems, the idea sounds far-fetched. If someone a hundred years ago said we’d detect evidence of exoplanets, many would dismiss it. Presently, our knowledge and resources are limited, but who knows, in the future, it might not be entirely impossible that we could live on an exoplanet.”

He pointed out several challenges:

“Microgravity is one of them. We are not adapted to impacts of zero or very low gravity. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) lose bone density, muscle mass, and other bodily functions degrade in such environments. On celestial bodies like the Moon or Mars (or further out), keeping physical health would require strenuous countermeasures.”

He explained sustaining food production to live outside of Earth would require a regenerative, closed-loop system. “Shipping everything from Earth is near impossible. Latency (in transporting goods or information) and limited capacity make it a considerable problem.”

UAE scientists and educational outreach

Meanwhile, students from different schools in the emirate, congregated at the museum to attend lectures, participate in planetary science workshops and attend galaxy tours.

Muna Al Mulla, Senior Instructor at the Sharjah Science Museum, emphasised that programmes like 'Space Dialogues' help students learn about discoveries in space and astronomy, inspiring them toward careers in these fields.

“The ‘Space Dialogues’ sessions organised by the Sharjah Science Museum provide a valuable platform for students and future generations to explore the world of space and science. Students can learn about the latest discoveries and innovations in the field of space and astronomy, inspiring them to pursue their interests in science and space, and choose career paths in these inspiring fields.”

Experts at the event also echoed how such initiatives not only spark curiosity but also strengthen the UAE’s growing footprint in space research and exploration.

Ibrahim Abdelrahman Al Jarwan, Board Chairman of the Emirates Astronomical Society, said, “Public awareness and education are crucial. The UAE is already recognised among leading space-faring nations alongside countries such as India, China, Brazil, Europe and Russia, and teaching the younger generation helps sustain and build that reputation.”