Mohsen Al Awadhi

Director of the Space Missions Department UAE Space Agency

Mohsen Al Awadhi, the Director of the Space Missions Department and the Emirates Capability Development initaitve at UAE Space Agency, stands as a respected figure in aerospace engineering and mission system architecture, boasting a distinguished career that encompasses both aviation and space exploration. In his role, Mohsen holds a pivotal position in overseeing strategic missions, including serving as the Mission Director for the groundbreaking Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA) a pioneering program aimed at studying seven asteroids between Mars and Jupiter. In his current capacity, Mohsen leads a multidisciplinary team of experts, overseeing all aspects of UAESA funded missions such as EMM Extdned Mission, Sirb, 813 and GiQ, from strategic planning to mission execution. His guidance and leadership are instrumental in the development and implementation of mission-critical technologies and Emirates capability development aligning them with the strategical objectives of UAE's space sector. Before his current appointment, Mohsen served as the Senior Systems Engineer at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, where he played a key role in the Mission Systems Engineering as a lead for the Emirates Mars Mission (EMM). Mohsen spearheaded various critical aspects of the mission, from systems engineering and test engineering to risk management and planetary protection. His expertise also extended to leading the science phase of the mission, ensuring its success and significant scientific advancements. Mohsen started his professional career work in Emirates Airline as an Aircraft Technician, where he honed his skills in aviation mechanics, aero-engines and system maintenance as a Lisncsed Aircraft Engineer, laying a solid foundation for his future endeavors. The practical insight and technical knowledge acquired during this phase of his career equipped him to transition into the realm of space technology.