Emirates Mars Mission invites students to take ‘Planet X’ challenge

Pupils will design robots for deep space exploration; winning team to receive Dh50,000

Empowering youth is an important part our long-term vision to enhance the nation’s global position in all spacerelated fields.”

EOmran Sharaf | EMM-Hope Probe project manager

mirates Mars Mission (EMM), the first Arab interplanetary mission, is calling on UAE students with skills in science, engineering, technology and maths to design and code robots that can successfully carry out complex reconnaissance missions on Mars.

EMM announced yesterday that it has partnered with Dubai Airshow 2021 to carry out ‘Planet X’ — a nationwide competition designed to inspire a new generation of talent to build careers in the fast-growing global space and aviation industries. The twomonth contest will require students to build, code and design robots for deep space exploration.

“Empowering youth is an important part our long-term vision to enhance the nation’s global position in all spacerelated fields and create a new cadre of leaders that can push the boundaries of science and technology,” said Omran Sharaf, EMM-Hope Probe project manager.

Sharaf added: “We want to inspire students to reach for the stars and contribute to our nation’s meteoric rise in deep space exploration and I believe our new competition will deliver on this.”

Timothy Hawes, managing director at Tarsus F&E, organisers of Dubai Airshow 2021, added: “Planet X challenge provides students with an opportunity to showcase their skills, learn from the industry’s leading experts, and pave their way towards a career in the space industry.”

Planet X challenge kicks off with a pre-qualification round in September, followed by a week of training in October. The main challenge takes place during the Dubai Airshow 2021, running from November 14 to 18 this year.

To join the competition, students must complete a pre-qualification challenge which is open to all high school and university students in the UAE.