UAE’s Mars city plan is ‘very achievable’
dubai — A US veteran astronaut, who has done 692 orbits of Earth, said it’s not long until an Emirati ventures into space after seeing the progress the UAE has made so far in space exploration.
Don Thomas, a retired Nasa astronaut, said the UAE “achieves whatever it sets its eyes” on and it will be a proud moment for the country when the Hope satellite orbits Mars with a UAE flag on its side by 2020. Thomas has carried out four space missions from 1994 to 1997. He has accomplished a total of 1,040 space hours and has done 692 orbits of Earth.
He said the UAE’s plan of a mini city on mars is also “very achievable” and it’s possible the country will have their goal accomplished much before their initial target year, 2117.
“I’m pretty excited about the UAE space agency and it wasn’t even launched a long time ago. They’ve got great plans and I’m most excited about the Mars mission. It will arrive there in their 50th anniversary and that’s such a powerful way to get the attention of the young students,” Thomas said.
“I think it’s going to capture their imagination when you have a spacecraft orbiting Mars and it has the flag of the UAE on the side, it’ll be great for everyone in this great nation, especially for the students.
“Everything I’ve seen here, whatever you go for, you accomplish. So, if you want to get Emirati students up in space, you’re on good track to do that.”
Thomas said that the UAE’s plan to build a mini city on Mars by the year 2117 is achievable and considering all of the progress the country has made in such a short period of time, it can reach that goal sooner than expected.
He said the world has the necessary technology to build a permanent base on Mars in the years to come.
“It’s achievable. I think we have the technology right now and were developing them further and whatever you need to do for permanent base I think it can be accomplished. In 100 years, we will surpass that probably. It seems that it is so incredible you can do that and in hundred years, but with the progress made so far, you will see it happening even quicker,” Thomas said.
Thomas was in the UAE for the Think Science Fair. He has been in the country in the previous years, where he did a tour in a number of UAE schools, sharing tales of his time in Space and answering questions.
Everything I’ve seen here, whatever you go for, you accomplish. So, if you want to get Emirati students up in space, you’re on good track to do that.”
There are more pictures taken of Dubai from the International Space Station. You can see the Palm Islands and the World Islands from up there.”
I remember it was my first day in space and I see the comet after the sunset. I watch it for about 10 to 15 seconds, it got lower and lower at the lim of the earth.” Don Thomas, retired Nasa astronaut