Last July the UAE announced a goal to send an unmanned probe to Mars by 2021, making it the first Arab country with a mission to explore another planet.
Plans are already underway to turn the Hope mission into a reality.
The UAE Space Agency has already been launched, and recently unveiled a plan to strengthen the foundations of the country’s space sector with the aim of becoming one of the leading space science explorers in the world.
The agency also hosted the Global Space & Satellite Forum to promote the importance of space education.
Abu Dhabi’s Masdar Institute of Science and Technology attended the forum to present some of its new research applications in the Hope mission.
The institute has established an internal team of researchers to develop technology for the mission, which is overseen by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre.
Masdar is one of seven universities on the centre’s science and research team, which is in charge of planning science objectives, gathering resources and completing an analysis of the mission.
The institute estimates that it will need 150 Emirati scientists and engineers to work on Hope and is working on a dedicated graduate level space-oriented programme.
Dr Saif Al Mheiri, assistant professor of mechanical and materials engineering at Masdar Institute, says, “The UAE has already invested $5.4 billion (AED 19.8 trillion) in space technologies.
“Collaboration between the industry and academia warrants a sustainable growth to the Emirati space industry through knowledge creation.
“The benefits of such collaboration are mutual. The industry will have access to cutting-edge scientific research and specialised equipment as well as the invaluable experience that researchers bring to the table.”
