For many years, space has been seen as the final frontier. A place still largely unknown. In our galaxy alone (the Milky Way), there are somewhere in the region of 100 – 400 billion stars spanning an area of 100,000 light-years across – almost 600 quadrillion miles for those who prefer earthly terms. It is no surprise, then, that nations across the globe have turned their gaze toward this vast frontier, a domain that may well conceal the answers to some of humanity’s most profound mysteries. The UAE is no different; in 2014, the government opened the UAE Space Agency in a bid to spearhead national space initiatives, foster international collaboration, and position the nation as a key player in the global space sector. Read on to discover everything you need to know about the UAE Space Agency.
The Story Behind the Stars
An autonomous federal public entity, the agency has been granted the legal authority to pursue its purpose and objectives head-on, as outlined in its mission statement, which reads: Confronting our national challenges and enhancing the country’s competitiveness through space missions and a supportive legislative environment. Utilising space as a form of soft power, the country is attempting to position itself as a regional player in the industry, which it is hoped will help enhance other vital sectors.
With a range of strategic objectives, such as attracting quality competencies, raising efficiencies across various government sectors and providing a regulatory environment that attracts business and investment, the agency is also intended to develop physical space capabilities, while transferring the knowledge learned in order to raise standards across the private sector.
In addition, the organisation is expected to govern the space legislative environment, while building an international ecosystem which facilitates the sharing of knowledge is also high on the agenda, though this will, of course, depend on political alliances.
With a strategic move towards diversifying the UAE’s economy in recent years, the UAE Space Agency has pumped in AED 3 billion via the National Space Fund, with the goal of supporting ground-breaking programmes, building national capabilities and developing the infrastructure supporting space exploration.
Space Projects and Missions
As a relatively young governmental branch, the UAE Space Agency is currently developing a Science, Technology and Innovation roadmap with the intention of making the country a strategic partner for future international collaborative space missions. The agency has outlined a number of key areas for support and funding over the coming years, such as encouraging public collaboration and contribution to national strategies, working with employees to develop their ideas, capitalising on innovative ideas and broadening sources of innovation.
The UAE Space Agency also has a couple of big projects (one currently ongoing, the other in the works), designed to further enhance the country’s international standing in the sector. The Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt, set to take place in March 2028, is a pioneering venture that aims to explore and study multiple asteroids within the main belt. The mission will see the “MBR Explorer” spacecraft – named after the ruler of Dubai and Vice President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum – conduct a number of flybys to observe and study seven main belt asteroids.
It is hoped this will provide invaluable data for the UAE’s space agency to learn more about our skies. The mission is expected to last seven years, covering an astonishing five billion kilometres and incorporating high-tech gravity-assist manoeuvres around Venus, Mars and Earth.
Arguably, even more exciting is the ongoing Emirates Mars Mission, which aims to paint a clear picture of the Martian climate for scientists. This is providing researchers more of an insight into the past and future of our own planet, while also potentially helping us learn more about possible life on the Red Planet, as well as other, distant planets.
The mission is helping scientists to understand why Mars is losing its upper atmosphere, while creating a clearer picture of how and why the planet’s atmosphere changes daily and throughout its seasons, among many other mission objectives.
This mission represented a particularly significant milestone for space exploration in the UAE. On February 9, 2021, the country became just the fifth nation to reach Mars and only the second to successfully enter the planet’s orbit on its first try – a highly impressive achievement for a space agency which was, at that point, just seven years old..
Other Important Initiatives
Named after the Arabic term for a flock of birds, “Sirb” is a satellite constellation initiative designed to enhance environmental and land use monitoring. These satellites will be able to process and interpret complex radar images of land formations, enhancing a variety of scientific, civil and commercial applications. It is hoped that, eventually, this project will help UAE-based companies to set up and maintain a space supply chain.
“813” marks the UAE’s pioneering role in the region’s first collaborative Arab space missions. The project’s name pays homage to the year that saw the founding of the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, an institution renowned for advancing scientific inquiry and intellectual pursuit. Conceived to encourage Arab countries to develop space science and technology, it is hoped that scientists will acquire a better understanding of global environmental issues, such as climate change, through this earth-observing mission. The satellite will include state-of-the-art equipment like the Hyperspectral Imager (HSI), which has been designed to capture highly detailed data and monitor things like vegetation, water bodies and land use.
The Wider Support Network
The UAE Space Agency’s ‘Space Economic Zones’ program is an integrated initiative hoping to establish and grow the ecosystem of UAE-based companies that support space exploration. The objective is to build a sustainable cluster that fosters public-private collaboration, stimulates innovation, and applies space-specific technologies in commercial ventures.
Additionally, the Space Economic Zones will facilitate the needs of all space companies – from startups to established players – while gathering SMEs within a singular network. This will, it is hoped, encourage collaboration and information sharing. Access to space labs and facilities will also be provided, while a single portal providing mentorship and relevant opportunities is another key feature.
The establishment of a national space agency marks a significant milestone in asserting the UAE’s role as a global player. While other nations may have longer histories in the space sector, the ambition and vision demonstrated by this relatively young Arab nation is highly commendable. After making history with the successful orbit of Mars in 2021, expectations are high for the UAE’s future contributions to space exploration – a truly “watch this space” moment.
-jpg.jpeg)