Piece of Moon in UAE? Researchers create simulated lunar dust to support exploration
In a laboratory at a university in Abu Dhabi a team of researchers have been working on something groundbreaking – bringing a piece of the Moon to Earth.
The Emirates Lunar Simulant, a specially crafted material that mimics the properties of real moon dust, was developed by New York University Abu Dhabi's Space Exploration Laboratory, led by Dr Dimitra Atri.
It will allow scientists to test instruments for the upcoming Emirates Lunar Mission and the UAE's future astronauts on the Moon. Transporting large quantities of Moon soil to Earth is impractical, making soil simulants crucial for future lunar exploration.
Researchers developed the Emirates Lunar Simulant using anorthosite-rich rocks from the UAE, which closely match the mineral and chemical composition of lunar samples.
The NYUAD team, including researcher Vigneshwaran Krishnamoorthi and undergraduate students, are utilising the simulant to test instruments for critical mission operations such as landings, surface exploration, construction, and resource extraction.
'By leveraging local geological resources to advance planetary science, this project strengthens the UAE's role in space exploration and contributes to global efforts to prepare for future lunar missions,' said Atri, principal investigator at NYU Abu Dhabi's Space Exploration Laboratory.
'The Emirates Lunar Simulant will be instrumental in testing rover performance, training astronauts, and validating lunar equipment, helping optimise missions, and reducing risk for future lunar exploration.'
The anorthosite-rich rocks are important in understanding the Earth's geological history, as they are often considered to be ancient crustal material. These rocks were obtained from the Semail Ophiolite Complex (SOC), a geological formation in the UAE that preserves a section of Earth's lithosphere.
Anorthosite, a rock found in both Earth's crust and on the Moon, was studied in the research paper 'Development of Lunar Simulants from Analog Sites in the United Arab Emirates.' The researchers detailed how they identified and processed anorthosite layers within the SOC to create a high-purity lunar dust simulant.
In addition to testing instruments, the team explored the simulant's potential for lunar agriculture, successfully growing food in it. This experiment highlights its viability for future lunar farming, a crucial step toward sustaining long-term human presence in space.
Emirates Lunar Mission
Meanwhile, the UAE is making significant strides in the Artemis programme. As part of its expanding collaboration with NASA and international partners, the country will contribute an airlock module to the Lunar Gateway —a planned space station that will orbit the Moon.
This airlock will function as a sealed chamber, allowing astronauts to safely exit and enter the station during spacewalks or when transferring equipment.
In return for this contribution, the UAE has secured a seat for an Emirati astronaut who will be landing on the surface of the moon in the next ten years. This mission would mark a historic milestone, making the UAE one of the few nations to send an astronaut into lunar orbit.
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