The National honoured for its coverage of the UAE’s out-of-this-world ambitions
The UAE Space Agency has honoured The National for its insightful coverage of space travel and the country’s extraterrestrial ambitions.
The award was collected by journalist James Langton – who has written extensively about the UAE’s work – on behalf of the news organisation.
It came as the space agency celebrated its fourth birthday with an event in Abu Dhabi.
Since it was established in 2014, the country’s space programme has expanded substantially. Central to this is the Emirates Mars Mission that aims to place a probe named Amal (Hope) into orbit around the Red Planet by 2021.
“Preparations are going great for the Mars mission,” Dr Mohammed Al Ahbabi, director general of the agency, said yesterday.
“We get monthly briefs and it is on time and on budget. Everything is moving along nicely, which is not usual with space projects.”
The UAE’s astronaut programme is also progressing and nine hopefuls are now being considered from more than 4,000 initial applicants.
One of the final four will be sent on a 10-day mission to the International Space Station.
“There were applications from three generations of the same family,” he said. “Amazing.”
At the event, a video showed UAE Founding Father Sheikh Zayed’s interest in space and referenced his meeting with three American astronauts in 1976, when he was presented with a model of the United States Space Shuttle. His interest laid the foundations for today’s space programme.
In May, a new physics degree was announced that will offer access to the programme. The four-year course at American University of Sharjah will also offer internships at the UAE Space Agency and the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre.
It also aims to help with the Emirates Mars Mission.