Space agencies’ veterans inspire Zayed University students

Zayed University students had a glimpse into the future of space exploration yesterday with a visit from Nasa and European Space Agency veterans.

The officials met College of Natural and Health Sciences students in the women’s campus to discuss the roles of their agencies.

“Mars is always the driving long-term goal,” said Kathy Laurini, Nasa’s senior adviser for space operations, who has worked for the agency for 35 years.

Ms Laurini commended the UAE leadership for having the vision and focus to support and help to pioneer the exploration of Mars.

Reaching the Red Planet has been a driving force since the UAE Space Agency was founded in 2014 and teamed up with the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology to launch the Emirates Mars Mission.

That will include the launch of the space probe

Hope, which will reach Mars in 2021, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the UAE’s foundation.

The country has also set out the ambitious goal of building the first human settlement on the Red Planet by 2117.

“It is growing very fast, it is very focused,” Bernhard Hufenbach, head of ESA planning for space exploration, said of the UAE’s efforts.

“You see that the strong leadership and a clear vision help to focus your investment and move forward. It seems you have the resolve, you have the vision and the space technology developing capabilities are pretty impressive.”

Khaled Al Hashmi, director of space missions, science and technology at the UAE Space Agency, said he hoped the discussion helped to inspire and motivate the students.

“We want them to be aware of the international space programme and also the UAE’s space programme, because we think there are huge opportunities for the new generation to get into space,” Mr Al Hashmi said.

“The opportunity did not exist before, but now space is huge. You have research and development opportunities, you have technology, you have science, so it’s a wide, wide sector.”