UAE SETS SIGHTS ON MARS MINI-CITY
dubai — On Monday, Dubai brought you news of flying cars, and on Tuesday it laid down plans for the first mini-city on Mars. Now if one thing can be said about this city, it’s that it certainly doesn’t do things by halves.
At the conclusion of the World Government Summit on Tuesday, the Mars 2117 project to help transfer humanity to the Red Planet was announced, and it’s a plan that has got the whole space world abuzz.
The Mars Mission for 2117 is a national programme for the next 100 years that aims to prepare scientific research specialised in the exploration of the Red Planet. It will be fully operated by Emirati engineers and scientists.
The project, which aims to eventually establish the first mini-city on Mars, will help to explore life on the planet and will look at discovering ways to supply a small city
with life, energy and food during its final phase.
The research will also include the development of faster transport and travel from Earth to Mars and back. In celebration of the talent which is being nurtured from within the country, the project will be spearheaded with an Emirati team of scientists, and will expand over the coming period to include international scientists and researchers who will partner in their efforts to explore potential life in Mars.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, made the announcement with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. On the occasion, Sheikh Mohammed said: “The Mars 2117 project aims at building the scientific and cognitive capabilities of the UAE and it will transform our universities into research centers, while planting the passion for leadership in future generations.”
He then added: “The new project is the seed we set today and we expect to see its results in the new generations that will be led by passion for science to reach a new human cognitive limits.” The UAE today is among the top nine countries in the world investing in space science, and Sheikh Mohammed said its main goal is to accelerate human research in this area.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com