OMAN CAN LEAD GLOBAL SPACE RESEARCH: EXPERTS

Omani and Austrian Space Forum signed an agreement for the Mars research mission

MUSCAT: Oman’s unique position in the world could see the Sultanate become a space research hub in the future, according to sci- entists and experts in the country.

The value of space research and development is currently valued at about US$ 330 billion (about OMR127 billion), and Oman could become one of the main staging posts for research and expedition planning. A Mars research mission being organised by the Austrian Space Forum has been scheduled for February 2018 and an agreement was signed yesterday between the agency and the Omani government.

The tiny Dhofar town of Marmul, with a population in the low thousands, will host the expedition, and could provide a launchpad to Oman’s space research ambitions. Researchers believe Marmul - better than anywhere else on earth - resembles the Red Planet. Representatives landed in Oman yesterday morning to sign a deal at the offices of the State Council, and more could soon be in the pipeline, experts agree.

Terrain and conditions

With terrain and conditions very similar to Mars and other planets in the solar system, Oman provides the perfect environment to simulate conditions on Mars, ahead of the agency’s planned missions to Mars in future.

“I think, that with Oman, all that is required is to flip the switch,” said Dr. Gernot Gromer, president of the Austrian Space Forum, or Osterreichisches Weltraum Forum. (OeWF)

“There is plenty of human and technological potential in Oman, and the government is very keen to actively promote space research here.”

Wisam Al Busaidi, vice-president of the Oman Astronomical Society, believes Oman can establish itself as a hub for space research and development.

“There are two or three other organisations that have begun speaking with us on similar mis- sions,” said Al Busaidi, who is also the project manager for the Omani delegation on the Mars mission.

“We can definitely become a space research sector, there is nothing to stop Oman from doing this in future. There is interest in future generations to involve themselves in the scientific sectors. There are around 19 experiments which will take place in February, and one of these is Omani.

“Two high-school girls from Izki have an experiment to search for water on Mars,” he added.