The mission team also contributed to the conference's scientific programme through four presentations covering the mission’s overview, scientific overview, volatile stability estimates for the targets, and thermal imaging science.

The Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA) participated in the 15th Asteroids, Comets, Meteors (ACM) Conference, held in Poznań, Poland, from July 6 to 10, 2026, where the mission team presented its latest scientific progress and engaged with the international planetary science community.

The conference, one of the leading global events dedicated to the study of small bodies in the Solar System, brought together scientists, researchers and experts from around the world to discuss the latest developments in planetary science and asteroid research.

During the event, the EMA team hosted a workshop titled Science Opportunities with the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt, introducing the mission’s scientific objectives and outlining opportunities for international researchers and academic institutions to collaborate on its research programmes. The workshop also highlighted the mission’s role in advancing scientific cooperation and supporting the exploration of small bodies across the Solar System.

Mohsen Al Awadhi, Mission Director of EMA and Director of the Space Missions Department at the UAE Space Agency, said: “Our participation in this conference provides an important platform to showcase the progress of the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt and highlight its scientific ambitions, while deepening collaboration with the global planetary science community. By engaging with leading researchers, institutions, and space agencies, we aim to strengthen scientific exchange, foster international collaboration, and contribute to advancing our collective understanding of small bodies across the Solar System.”

Al Awadhi added: “This participation reflects the UAE’s long-term commitment to advancing space science through international collaboration and knowledge exchange, in line with the objectives of the National Space Strategy 2031. It reinforces our efforts to build national capabilities, strengthen the UAE’s contribution to global scientific research, and position the country as a trusted partner in shaping the future of deep-space exploration.”

The EMA team also contributed to the conference’s scientific programme through four presentations covering the mission overview, its scientific objectives, volatile stability estimates for mission targets and thermal imaging science.

In addition, researchers presented five scientific posters detailing recent studies on the UAE Justitia stellar occultation campaign, asteroid taxonomic classification for the mission’s colour camera, the origin of asteroid (269) Justitia, thermophysical analysis of the mission’s target asteroids and the design of its low-thrust multi-asteroid trajectory.

According to the UAE Space Agency, the conference participation highlights the mission’s continued progress while reinforcing the country’s growing role in global space science through expanded research partnerships and scientific contributions.

The Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt is a 13-year programme and the first mission of its kind to study seven asteroids located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The mission aims to improve understanding of the asteroids’ origins, evolution and composition, while investigating the presence of water-bearing, organic and volatile materials that could support future space exploration.

The initiative also seeks to strengthen private-sector participation in the UAE’s space industry, with private companies accounting for 50% of the mission’s involvement. Supported by the approximately $1bn National Space Fund, the mission is expected to contribute to the continued development of the UAE’s space, innovation and advanced technology sectors.