The stellar race to space
Next stop, Moon: By 2030, the UAE is going to be a key player in the space industry. Businesses with spacerelated technology and public-oriented space activities will boom. I am hoping that in the next 10 years, public access to space and space tourism will become easy and common. The moon would be my favourite destination.” Shaneer Nusrat Siddiqui, project coordinator, Dubai Astronomy Group
Staycation in space, please: When it comes to space, anything is possible. I believe an average person will be able to travel to the moon in about nine to 10 years — it’s all about developing the proper technology. First, we’ll start off slowly with sub-orbital flights and then as technology progresses, we’ll make space tourism flights long-distance and long-duration. There are already firms who want to build hotels on the moon.” Hamad Ismail, aircraft engineer
Next generation leaders: UAE government agencies are working closely with universities and schools, where they are spreading awareness of space flights, space research and satellite programmes. The average age of the space programme team that is working on the mission to Mars is 27. They are starting young and this would lead to a very bright future.” Sreejit Chakrabarty, Director of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence at GEMS Education
Port of departure — Al Ain: I wish to travel to space one day. I’m thrilled that Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic has chosen Al Ain airport as its base for sending tourists off to space. In the past years, we’ve seen the UAE becoming a force to reckon with — a nation which is not even 50 years old and has already accomplished a space mission.” Mishal Faraz, 13-year-old student
The last decade has been a phenomenal one for the country’s space sector. From launching its first 100 per cent Emirati built satellite to announcing a Mars probe and sending its first astronaut to space, the country proved how sky is not the limit for its ambitions.
2009: The UAE launches its first earth observation satellite called Dubai SAT-1. The images from this satellite have helped in urban planning, sustainable development, monitoring environmental changes and weather patterns, and contributed to humanitarian efforts. A team of Emirati space engineers spent several years in South Korea, working with and learning from their partners to build this satellite.
2012: Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) becomes a member of the International Astronautically Federation, becoming part of the international space community. > Virgin Galactic announces plans to build a spaceport in the UAE, kick-starting the country’s journey in the commercial space industry.
2013: The UAE launches the Dubai SAT-2 satellite. The team at MBRSC and their Korean partners worked together on this project. It’s an enhanced version of the first satellite, with improved maneuvering and speed capabilities.
2014: The UAE Space Agency is formed. To further add to the space successes the UAE was seeing, this entity was founded to ensure the right regulations, laws and policies were in place for space-related activities in the country. The agency also plays a major role in outreach programmes and satellite development
> UAE’s mission to Mars is announced by the President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. An unmanned Mars probe, called Hope, will be launched in 2020.
2016: The UAE and Nasa sign an agreement to cooperate in aeronautics research and the exploration and use of airspace and outer space for peaceful purposes.
2017: UAE leaders announce plans to build an entire city on Mars by 2117. Soon after, the MBRSC revealed plans to build a Dh500 million Mars Scientific City in Al Khawaneej, Dubai. > The country launches its first UAE Astronaut Programme.
2018: After narrowing down candidates from 4,022 applications for the UAE Astronaut Programme, the country announces the names of its first two astronauts: Hazzaa AlMansoori and Sultan Al Neyadi.
> The UAE launches its first 100 per cent Emirati-built satellite, KhalifaSat. The successful launch proved UAE’s capabilities in space technology production.
2019: September 25, 2019: A historic date for the UAE as Hazzaa AlMansoori launches to the International Space Station (ISS). His eight-day trip to the ISS made him the first Arab on the station and the first Emirati in space. > Two months after Hazzaa’s return, the country opens applications for the next Emirati mission to space. > The UAE Space Agency forms the Arab Space Cooperation Group along with 10 other Arab countries to work on joint space projects. The aim is to work towards forming an Arab Space Agency.
2020: The UAE is set to launch its Hope probe during a narrow launch window of July 14 to August 3 from Japan.