The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is to build the crew and science airlock module for the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration- (Nasa-) led Gateway Space Station. Gateway will be the first space station to orbit the Moon, and forms part of the Nasa-led Artemis human lunar exploration programme.

The airlock module will be built by the UAE’s Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), which will also provide engineering support, throughout the Gateway’s life. The purpose of the airlock will be to allow astronauts on the station to access the outside of the Gateway, both for maintenance purposes and to execute scientific experiments. As part of the agreement, the MBRSC will also provide a UAE astronaut to fly to the Gateway on a future Artemis mission.

“The United States and the United Arab Emirates are marking a historic moment in our nations’ collaboration in space, and the future of human space exploration,” affirmed Nasa administrator Bill Nelson. “We are in a new era of exploration through Artemis – strengthened by the peaceful and international exploration of space. The UAE’s provision of the airlock to Gateway will allow astronauts to conduct groundbreaking science in deep space and prepare to one day send humanity to Mars.”

Gateway will serve as both a waystation for human missions to the lunar surface and as a scientific research outpost in its own right. It will allow humans to directly carry out experiments in what is currently regarded as deep space, including by means of spacewalks (technically: extravehicular activities or EVAs).

The Nasa-led Artemis programme has become the most international human space exploration programme yet seen. In addition to Nasa itself and new partner MBRSC, it also involves the Canadian Space Agency, the European Space Agency, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Other space agencies, including the South African National Space Agency, will provide ground-based support for Artemis missions.  

Two UAE astronauts have already flown in space with Nasa. The first, Hazzaa Almansoori, visited the International Space Station (ISS) in 2019, on a short mission. The second, Sultan Al Neyadi, also participated in an ISS mission, last year, as part of the Nasa SpaceX Crew-6 mission. Two other UAE astronauts are currently being trained by Nasa.