UAE’s Orbital Space Joins China’s Moon Research Programme

Orbital Space, a start-up based in the UAE, has signed with the China’s aggressive lunar plan to create strategic technology for the next mission to the Moon. This mission will help China in achieving its International Lunar Research Station program of construction of a lunar base in the next decade. The deal, which was inked between Orbital Space, and China’s Deep Space Exploration Lab, was unveiled at the International Deep Space Exploration Conference that was held in China.

This one is going to entail the options of developing payloads and lunar exploration technologies with future launches envisioned as part of China’s Moon missions. Orbital Space will also invite Chinese space specialists to the UAE to take part in youth training activities, therefore creating a new generation of space lovers. According to Nada Al Shammari, Director of Orbital Space, countries around the world should cooperate closely in attaining milestones in the goals of space exploration including China’s great leap in lunar research.

Orbital Space the company that launched Kuwait’s first mini-satellite last year is scheduled to launch the UAE’s first ever private mission to the Moon in 2026. The mission will touch the lunar surface and this will help them in conducting experimentations on how to maybe build space suits that are resistant to the dust on moon.

China’s lunar programme that registered accomplishments including the Chang’e-6 mission is to permanently establish a research station on the Moon with resources including water ice. Orbital Space is the second UAE entity to get involved in the attempt, after the University of Sharjah united with China back in 2023.

Currently, there is concern between China and the US in the race to the moon, with China planning for 2030 and the US with its Artemis programme. The UAE is the member of Artemis Accords and is also actively pushing itself forward in the world of space exploration in the future cooperation with NASA and other international space agencies.