Local Press:UAE Space Goals On Right Track

In its editorial on Saturday, The Gulf Today said that a gargantuan mission calls for a superlative vision. "The UAE is blessed with a leadership that believes the journey of development will always remain a race for excellence."

ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 14th Jul, 2018) In its editorial on Saturday, The Gulf Today said that a gargantuan mission calls for a superlative vision. "The UAE is blessed with a leadership that believes the journey of development will always remain a race for excellence."

"It is such recognition of the need to set high goals and earnest efforts to achieve results that has placed the UAE as a shining star in the eyes of the global community. The country has well recognised how space technologies are important to the security and economy. The space sector has become integral to many aspects of life from telecommunications to broadcasting and monitoring of weather and natural disasters," the paper added.

It went on to say that the UAE Space Agency, which is celebrating its fourth anniversary, has many reasons to cheer as it has made several achievements in a short span.

The paper quoted Dr. Ahmad bin Abdullah Humaid Belhoul Al Falasi, Cabinet Member, Minister of State for Higher education and Advanced Skills and Chairman of the Agency, as saying, "The four years since the establishment of the UAE Space Agency have seen this promising sector fulfil its strategic potential, which enabled it to keep pace with the technological revolution. We have taken our place among our international partners, to benefit humanity and create an empowered, educated and innovative future generation who are capable of continuing the nation’s journey and mission with excellence.

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"The Agency is continuing its mission to regulate, support and develop the UAE’s space sector, through launching ambitious space programmes, projects and initiatives that reflect the government’s vision, strategies and plans. What is inspiring is that one of its key goals is to see an Emirati astronaut representing the country at the international space station," the English language daily continued.

"The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre has already received over 4,000 applications (aged between 17 and 67) from Emiratis aspiring to join the UAE Astronaut Programme. The UAE also plans to build a city called Mars Scientific City, a Dhs500 million project that will simulate life on Mars within the UAE’s objectives to lead the global scientific race to take people to Mars and is part of the Mars 2117 Strategy. The City will cover 1.9 million square feet, making it the largest space-simulation city ever built and will provide a viable and realistic model to simulate living on the surface of Mars. In addition, the UAE plans to launch the Hope Mars Mission, a space exploration probe mission to Mars in 2020.

"The excellence of Emirati youth in space sciences, engineering and energy certainly opens before the nation new huge development prospects," the Sharjah-based daily concluded.