The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre have successfully launched the first Payload Hosting Initiative mission, PHI-1, under UNOOSA’s global Access to Space for All programme. The mission, developed with awardees announced in 2022, supports hands-on space engineering and operational capacity-building for developing countries.
PHI provides hosted-payload flight opportunities that reduce cost, shorten development timelines, and help nations gain flight heritage without needing to build full satellites. PHI-1 carries technology demonstrations from Antarikchya Pratisthan Nepal and the Bahrain Space Agency, focused on hazard sensing and enhancing secure, resilient links between satellites, ground stations, and IoT devices.
The initiative advances the UN’s “Space2030” Agenda by expanding global participation in space activities. Several Access to Space for All missions have already placed payloads and satellites in orbit, enabling emerging space nations to gain their first practical spaceflight experience.
UNOOSA Director Aarti Holla-Maini said PHI-1 demonstrates how inclusive partnerships lower barriers to space, build skills, and accelerate innovation. Amer AlSayegh AlGhaferi of MBRSC emphasized that the mission reflects the UAE’s commitment to enabling global collaboration and fostering the next generation of space engineers and researchers.
