UAE Strikes Deal With Thales Alenia Space For Space Station Module

UAE's Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Thales Alenia Space for the development of the Pressure Equalisation Unit of the Gateway lunar space station. Through its participation in the development of the Pressure Equalisation Unit, the country aims to enhance its global presence in the fields of space science and technology.

The Gateway lunar space station is a major component of NASA’s Artemis programme and will be the first space station to orbit the Moon. The UAE first announced its participation in developing a module alongside the USA, Japan, Canada, and the European Union in January 2024. The significant project also includes sending the first Emirati astronaut into lunar orbit.

I was delighted to attend the signing of a cooperation agreement with Thales Alenia Space, in the presence of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. This partnership is a major step towards realising the UAE’s space exploration goals,… pic.twitter.com/EgH7m0B21P

— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) February 4, 2025

The signing took place at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi, in the presence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. "This trailblazing project will usher in a new era of human space exploration, paving the way for the first Emirati Arab astronaut to enter lunar orbit," said Sheikh Hamdan, the Crown Prince of Dubai, in a social media post.