Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has attended the signing ceremony of an agreement at the Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation in Dubai, between the U.A.E. Space Agency and the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology, EIAST, to build the first Arabic-Islamic probe to Mars under the supervision of Emirati working group of the Emirates Space Agency.
According to the agreement, EIAST will implement all stages of the project under the supervision and direct funding from the Agency for a period of seven years.
Sheikh Mohammed stressed that the project will be implemented under the supervision of Emirati working group in cooperation with international partner specialists.
Sheikh Mohammed said, "today we embark on a seven year journey to develop the knowledge, skills and infrastructure needed to accomplish our goal to reach Mars," adding that the sky is the limit for our ambitions but that requires a team determined enough to attain this.
He added that the historic mission "lies ahead of us" and that such mission will be a national pride, a great Arab achievement, and a valuable contribution to science and humanity.
The U.A.E. entered the global race to explore outer space in July 2014 when President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan unveiled the space agency and announced plans to launch a scientific voyage of discovery to the red planet by 2021. The announcements mark a turning point in the country's development establishing space technology as a new drive for diversified economic growth. The Mars mission will enrich Emirati capabilities as well as increasing human knowledge about space exploration and distant planets.
The probe will take nine months to make the journey to Mars. By this the U.A.E. will be one of only nine countries with ambitions for Mars. The mission is scheduled to arrive in 2021 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the U.A.E..
The U.A.E. Space Agency reports to the Cabinet and enjoys financial and administrative independence. It is responsible for organising, supervising and managing the nation's space sector as well as supporting its contribution to the national economy. The agency works to raise awareness about the importance of space technologies, enhance national capabilities and encourage peaceful application of space research. Moreover, the agency is to provide technical and advisory support for all stakeholders in the country.
U.A.E.'s investments in space technologies has already exceeded Dh20 billion including satellite data and TV broadcast company Al Yah Satellite Communications, mobile satellite communication company Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications, and Earth mapping and observation system Dubai Sat.
Globally, space technologies are becoming increasingly important to the security and economy of nations, in many cases backed by massive national programmes and establishments. The sector forms an integral part of telecommunications, navigation, broadcasting and climatology. The industry is estimated to US$ 300 billion globally, with annual growth of 8%.
The event was attended by H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Dr. Khalifa Mohammed Al Rumaithi, Chairman of the Board and the Emirates Space Agency, Mohammed Ahmed Al Qamzi, Chairman of Chairman of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, Director General of the Department of Protocol and Hospitality in Dubai.
Source: WAM