MBRSC concludes its participation in the 77th International Astronautical Congress

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) has concluded its participation in the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2026) in Antalya, Türkiye, as part of a unified UAE presence that demonstrated the country’s progress in building a competitive, knowledge-driven and globally connected space sector.

Through the UAE Space Pavilion, MBRSC presented how sustained national investment in talent, technology, research and mission development is translating into stronger scientific capabilities, deeper international engagement and new opportunities for the UAE across the global space economy. The Centre’s participation also reflected the growing breadth of the country’s space ecosystem, where national programmes, technical expertise and international cooperation are increasingly working together to support long-term economic, scientific and technological goals.

Advancing space access
Among the key announcements made during IAC 2026 was the opening of applications for PHI-3, the third opportunity under the Payload Hosting Initiative, developed by MBRSC in partnership with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) through its ‘Access to Space for All’ initiative. The launch of PHI-3 at IAC 2026 further expands the UAE’s contribution to international capacity-building by creating access to space for entities and nations seeking to develop practical experience in satellite missions. 

MBRSC also extended its cooperation with the French space agency, CNES, through a Memorandum of Understanding supporting future missions under the Emirates Lunar Mission. Under the agreement, CNES will contribute imaging technologies, including CASPEX cameras, a micro-camera module and lighting systems, alongside technical support related to camera calibration, image processing and operations.

Showcasing progress
Throughout the Congress, the UAE Space Pavilion provided a platform to present the breadth of the country’s space capabilities and the progress of its national programmes.

Visitors explored MBRSC’s missions and programmes in the presence of the UAE delegation led by H.E. Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, UAE Minister of Sports and Chairman of the UAE Space Agency; H.E. Dr. Sultan AlNeyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs; H.E. Salem Humaid AlMarri, Director General of MBRSC; H.E. Eng. Salem Butti Al Qubaisi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency along with astronauts Hazzaa AlMansoori, Nora AlMatrooshi and Mohammad AlMulla. 

Displays at the UAE Space Pavilion included Rashid Rover 2 and MBZ-SAT, offering visitors an overview of the UAE’s latest developments in lunar exploration and Earth observation, alongside content highlighting the Centre’s wider portfolio of missions and programmes.

The Pavilion also welcomed representatives from leading space sector entities, research institutions and international organisations throughout the week. These engagements created opportunities to exchange perspectives on sector priorities, explore potential areas of cooperation and discuss future partnerships.

Sessions by astronauts and engineers
Human spaceflight was another prominent part of the Centre’s participation. UAE astronauts H.E. Dr. Sultan AlNeyadi, Hazzaa AlMansoori, Nora AlMatrooshi and Mohammad AlMulla presented a session on the UAE Astronaut Programme, sharing insights into its objectives, astronaut training and the UAE’s missions aboard the International Space Station. The session also looked at the preparations underway to develop the skills and experience required for future missions.

Astronaut Hazzaa AlMansoori further represented the UAE in an international session on astronaut training, accommodation and mission operations, alongside astronauts from other space agencies. He shared insights from his experience and presented the development of the UAE Astronaut Programme as the country prepares for the next stages of its human spaceflight journey.

MBRSC experts also delivered and participated in scientific and technical sessions covering the Emirates Lunar Mission, remote sensing applications and other areas linked to the Centre’s programmes. These engagements enabled UAE expertise and knowledge developed through national missions to contribute directly to international scientific exchange at the Congress.

The Centre also participated in discussions examining the longstanding space relationship between the UAE and Japan and opportunities for future cooperation across the space value chain, building on years of engagement spanning satellite launches, human spaceflight and educational initiatives.

Beyond the scientific and technical programme, the UAE Space Pavilion introduced visitors to Emirati heritage through interactive activities inspired by Sadu, offering a cultural dimension to the UAE’s presence at one of the world’s largest gatherings of the space community.

Held from 5 to 9 October under the theme “The World Needs More Space”, IAC 2026 brought together space agencies, industry, academia, astronauts, researchers and organisations from around the world. MBRSC’s participation formed part of a wider national presence that demonstrated the progress of the UAE space ecosystem and the country’s increasing contribution to space science, exploration and technology at the international level.