MBRSC and French CNES Ink Deal for Future Moon Missions and Satellite Tech

The UAE concluded its participation at the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2026) in Antalya, Türkiye, on Friday, 9 October, securing multiple international agreements to expand its lunar exploration and satellite capabilities. The national delegation, led by Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports and Chairman of the UAE Space Agency, utilized the global forum to transition the country’s space strategy from individual missions toward a fully integrated space economy. Strategic Partnerships and Lunar Exploration During the event, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with France’s Centre national d’études spatiales (CNES) to deepen bilateral space cooperation. In a separate private sector development, UAE-based Falcon Robotics signed a tripartite MoU with Japanese firms Dymon and JAOPS. This partnership will focus on the YAOKI lunar rover and the application of artificial intelligence and autonomous technologies for future lunar missions. The MBRSC also announced the opening of applications for PHI-3, the third phase of the Payload Hosting Initiative. Conducted in partnership with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), the initiative provides countries with practical opportunities to build space capabilities by hosting payloads on Emirati satellite platforms. Ministerial Engagements and Global Awards Dr. Al Falasi held high-level bilateral meetings with Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Türkiye’s…