HAMDAN BIN MOHAMMED HAMAD AL MANSOURI PROFESSOR MELIKECHI A NEW EARTH
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Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre Magazine<br />
ISSUE 2 September 2015<br />
Inspired by Space Science and Technology<br />
<strong>HAMDAN</strong> <strong>BIN</strong> <strong>MOHAMMED</strong><br />
The new Chairman of MBRSC tours the centre<br />
and announces a 15-year strategic plan for<br />
development<br />
<strong>HAMAD</strong> <strong>AL</strong> <strong>MANSOURI</strong><br />
The Chairman of the Board talks about<br />
MBRSC’s role in the knowledge-based economy<br />
<strong>PROFESSOR</strong> <strong>MELIKECHI</strong><br />
The renowned Arab scientist on NASA‘s efforts<br />
to explore Mars<br />
A <strong>NEW</strong> <strong>EARTH</strong><br />
Astronomers discover Kepler-452b, the most<br />
Earth-like planet ever found
Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre Magazine<br />
ISSUE 2 September 2015<br />
The new Chairman of MBRSC tours the<br />
centre and announces a 15-year strategic<br />
plan for development<br />
The Chairman of the Board talks<br />
about MBRSC’s role in the knowledgebased<br />
economy<br />
The renowned Arab scientist on NASA‘s<br />
efforts to explore Mars<br />
Astronomers discover Kepler-452b, the<br />
most Earth-like planet ever found<br />
3 CONTENTS<br />
Governments that set an example for innovation have the power to<br />
implant a nationwide culture of creativity. When such a culture takes root,<br />
people feel inspired to run further with their ideas, to aim higher with<br />
their ambitions and to pursue bigger dreams.<br />
Inspired by Space Science and Technology<br />
<strong>HAMDAN</strong> <strong>BIN</strong> <strong>MOHAMMED</strong><br />
<strong>HAMAD</strong> <strong>AL</strong> <strong>MANSOURI</strong><br />
<strong>PROFESSOR</strong> <strong>MELIKECHI</strong><br />
A <strong>NEW</strong> <strong>EARTH</strong><br />
A magazine specialised in space science<br />
and technology, issued bi-monthly and<br />
produced on behalf of the Mohammed bin<br />
Rashid Space Centre.<br />
General Supervisor<br />
Yousuf Hamad Al Shaibani<br />
Director General<br />
Yousuf@mbrsc.ae<br />
Managing Editor<br />
Mona Al Qemzi<br />
Assistant Director General for<br />
Financial and Administrative Affairs<br />
Editorial Secretary<br />
Saeed Al-Emadi<br />
Media and External Communication officer<br />
Editorial and design<br />
Editorial Board<br />
Amani Abuseedo<br />
Dan Charter<br />
Nicole Rehbane<br />
Dua Al Shafey<br />
Design and production<br />
Sree E S<br />
To contact the magazine:<br />
MBRSC: +971 4 6071200<br />
7G Media: +971 4 449 5427<br />
info@mbrsc.ae<br />
info@7gmedia.com<br />
All information provided in Majarat is provided<br />
for information purposes only. Although every<br />
reasonable effort is made to present current<br />
and accurate information, Majarat makes no<br />
guarantees of any kind and cannot be held liable<br />
for any outdated or incorrect information.<br />
Copyright 2015. All Rights Reserved<br />
Discover<br />
Inspire<br />
Motivate<br />
Intermission<br />
5 Editorial - Yousef Hamad Al Shaibani<br />
6 Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum<br />
installed as the Chairman of the MBRSC<br />
8 Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum works to develop a<br />
strategic plan for the MBRSC<br />
13 Hamad Obaid Al Mansouri, Chairman MBRSC<br />
16 Omran Sharaf, Emirates Mars Mission Project Manager<br />
18 NASA discovers new Earth<br />
20 New Horizons, new discoveries<br />
22 International Space News<br />
26 Noureddine Melikechi<br />
29 Abdul Kalam<br />
30 NASA trip inspires Emiratis to pursue a career in space<br />
32 The 10 most iconic images from human space endeavour<br />
38 The story of the first Arab in space<br />
41 Frank-Uwe Ungerer - DHL<br />
44 The greatest spacecraft of all time<br />
48 Mars One – A new civilisation on Mars in under 15 years?<br />
50 Editorial - Mona Al Qamzi<br />
Printed by<br />
Emirates Printing Press<br />
ISSUE 02
5<br />
EDITORI<strong>AL</strong><br />
Words from the Director General<br />
Taking successful<br />
steps on<br />
our journey<br />
If there is no struggle, there is no progress and no success… Hoping to come up with new ideas and<br />
succeed without exerting effort and taking risks is an unachievable dream, a dream that will never see the<br />
light of the day, and a dream that cannot build institutions and cannot achieve development. Those who sit<br />
back and look aimlessly at the opportunities end up missing the train and fail to continue their journey. We<br />
must take risks and embrace challenges based on vision, creativity and innovation.<br />
The best way to face challenges and devise a distinguished idea is to come up with many different ideas<br />
initially. This is a feature that characterises ambitious and inspiring institutions that believe in the existence<br />
of opportunities, nourishing optimism, attracting innovators and spreading creative and positive energy.<br />
These are the lessons we have learned at the Mohammed bin Rashid School for leadership, and have<br />
acquired at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) since its inception, and previously in the<br />
Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) since 2006. We continue to carry these<br />
lessons with us throughout our journey towards promoting scientific innovation and technical progress in<br />
the UAE. We are in the year which our government has declared as the Year of Innovation, during which<br />
the government continues the implementation of its plan directed towards the development of education,<br />
the inclusion of technology in schools and the focus on teaching science, engineering and mathematics.<br />
We are optimistic about achieving our goal, which is to establish an infrastructure for space science by<br />
launching specialised scientific and knowledge-based programs, as well as pushing innovation forward<br />
and making use of its applications in all development programs.<br />
The UAE is currently seeing the development of qualified institutions that are capable of developing the<br />
next generation of national engineers, experts and scientists in the fields of advanced technology and<br />
space engineering, through continuous training programs and the transfer of knowledge. They also offer<br />
grants for advanced academic studies, scientific research, knowledge and expertise, and practical training<br />
in testing and production facilities, as well as in the fields of spacecraft and satellite launch.<br />
Join us to work on the most ambitious national scientific projects<br />
An inspiring work environment based on training and career development<br />
At MBRSC, we are embarking upon a national, inspirational journey abound with ambitious scientific<br />
projects that will serve as a beacon of scientific progress in space science in the UAE and the Arab world.<br />
These projects offer unmatched career opportunities for ambitious and talented Emirati engineers,<br />
administrative and technical staff, allowing them to participate in the implementation of these projects and<br />
contribute to shaping the promising future of the UAE.<br />
The appointment of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid as Chairman and General Supervisor<br />
of all projects at MBRSC and its strategic and development plans reflects the leadership’s approach<br />
in providing its support to the fullest, as well as financing and sponsoring projects like the Hope Probe<br />
mission to explore the Red Planet.<br />
The presence of HH Hamdan Bin Mohammed in all national working fields and as Chairman of MBRSC,<br />
his long-term vision and his motivational actions to push forward development, quality and excellence, is<br />
a motivation and inspiration to keep us going on our ambitious journey.<br />
Yousuf Hamad Al Shaibani<br />
Director General<br />
Become a source of national pride.<br />
Apply via e-mail: careers@mbrsc.ae or visit www.mbrsc.ae for more information.<br />
ISSUE 02
DISCOVER<br />
6 7<br />
UAE Space News<br />
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed<br />
installed as the Chairman of MBRSC<br />
A decree issued by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid has<br />
appointed Sheikh Hamdan as the Chairman of MBRSC, as he<br />
issued a law to establish the centre, to appoint its Board of<br />
Directors and to determine its specialisations.<br />
Ground control satellites swing into motion at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre<br />
In his capacity as Ruler of Dubai, Vice<br />
President and Prime Minister of UAE His<br />
Highness Sheikh Mohammed issued a<br />
decree appointing Sheikh Hamdan, Crown<br />
Prince of Dubai, as Chairman and general<br />
supervisor of all the centre’s projects<br />
and its strategic and development plans.<br />
HH also issued a decree to appoint the<br />
centre’s Board of Directors, to determine its<br />
specialisations in a way so as to support the<br />
UAE’s vision in the space sector.<br />
The centre’s establishment<br />
decree in full<br />
“Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al<br />
Maktoum has issued a law establishing the<br />
Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, which<br />
will support the country’s ongoing efforts<br />
in the field of space, and will supervise<br />
the design, manufacturing and launch of<br />
Al Amal, or Hope, the Arab world’s first<br />
Mars probe.<br />
Additionally, the Mohammed bin Rashid<br />
Space Centre will serve as a platform<br />
to provide an integrated infrastructure<br />
dedicated to manufacturing satellites in the<br />
country, so as to utilise their application in<br />
all development sectors.<br />
“The centre will be responsible for<br />
initiating a national core of knowledge in<br />
space science, promoting innovation in<br />
this field, and the launching of scientific<br />
and educational programs in collaboration<br />
with specialised international bodies. It will<br />
further promote scientific development and<br />
innovation in space science in the country.<br />
The centre will also fund research and<br />
innovation projects related to space.<br />
“The centre will be serving vital development<br />
sectors in the country through utilising the<br />
best international practices and applications<br />
in advanced space technologies. In order to<br />
accomplish its objectives, the centre will<br />
have the right to establish technological<br />
companies, invest in satellite projects,<br />
launch space projects and fund spacerelated<br />
research and activities. It will<br />
coordinate with the government, regional<br />
and global bodies and hold specialised<br />
conferences as well as develop regional and<br />
global networks in the field of science and<br />
the application of space technologies.”<br />
Sheikh Mohammed also issued a law<br />
joining the Emirates Institution for Advanced<br />
Science and Technology (EIAST) with the<br />
centre, and thus EIAST is now to be under<br />
the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid<br />
Space Centre, and will be considered<br />
one of its affiliated institutions. The law<br />
further appoints a CEO to EIAST, who will<br />
implement and follow-up the policies, plans<br />
and programs set by the Mohammed bin<br />
Rashid Space Centre.<br />
Board of Directors appointment<br />
Sheikh Mohammed also issued a resolution<br />
appointing Hamad Obaid Al Sheikh Al<br />
Mansouri as Chairman of the Board of<br />
Directors at the centre, Yousef Ahmed Al<br />
Shaibani as Vice Chairman, in addition to<br />
Mansour Abdullah Bastaki, Mohammed Saif<br />
Al Miqbali and Mansoor Juma Bu Osaiba as<br />
members of the Board of Directors at the<br />
Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre.<br />
The board will set the general policies,<br />
development and strategic plans, approve<br />
and assess programs, follow-up the<br />
Executive Authority’s performance, approve<br />
the organisational structure and the annual<br />
budget and drive all authorities and powers<br />
towards achieving its objectives.<br />
The centre will have a Director General<br />
who will be appointed by a resolution from<br />
the Chairman. The Director General will<br />
be responsible for proposing policies,<br />
preparing work plans, programs and the<br />
organisational structure as well as all<br />
decisions on technical, administrative and<br />
financial aspects related to the centre. He<br />
will also prepare the annual budget, followup<br />
the implementation of all the resolutions<br />
approved by the board and oversee the<br />
organisational units of the centre, as well<br />
as prepare the annual follow-up reports<br />
pertaining to the projects and programs<br />
carried out by the centre.<br />
ISSUE 02 ISSUE 02
DISCOVER<br />
UAE Space News<br />
8 9<br />
DISCOVER<br />
UAE Space News<br />
Hamdan bin Mohammed<br />
works to develop a strategic<br />
plan for MBRSC<br />
Sheikh Hamdan reiterated that developments<br />
carried out in the space sector provide added<br />
value to the UAE’s various sectors, and to the<br />
country’s international reputation.<br />
“Our task now is to make sure that spacerelated<br />
knowledge is put to productive<br />
use,” said Sheikh Hamdan addressing the<br />
board members and the team of engineers,<br />
scientists, researchers and administrative staff<br />
during the meeting. He also highlighted the<br />
importance of building an Emirati generation<br />
that has the confidence and courage to enter<br />
into competition with major countries in the<br />
competitive field of space.<br />
“You are the core and the bedrock of a<br />
successful future with regard to the space<br />
sector, as our country is moving toward<br />
knowledge-based technologies,” said Sheikh<br />
Hamdan. He added that the UAE, under the<br />
leadership of UAE President His Highness<br />
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will lead<br />
the region in the space sector, noting that His<br />
Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al<br />
Maktoum wants the UAE to be at the forefront<br />
of the world’s biggest countries in this field<br />
before 2021.<br />
In relation to the 15-year strategy, Sheikh<br />
Hamdan emphasised the importance of<br />
encompassing all existing and future projects<br />
and programs undertaken by MBRSC within<br />
the plan. He added that developing a satellite<br />
system, expanding in space exploration, and<br />
initiating scientific projects and research within<br />
the country will be a priority in the immediate<br />
future.<br />
Sheikh Mohammed bin<br />
Rashid Al Maktoum<br />
wants the UAE to be<br />
at the forefront of<br />
the world’s biggest<br />
countries in this field<br />
before 2021.<br />
Sheikh Hamdan was accompanied by<br />
Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum,<br />
Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammed<br />
Abdullah Al Gergawi and Chairman of the<br />
Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of<br />
the UAE (TRA), Mohamad Ahmad Al-Qamzi.<br />
His Highness was briefed on the Hope project,<br />
the Arab world’s first Mars probe, as well as<br />
other satellite projects such as DubaiSat-1<br />
and DubaiSat-2, which at the time marked<br />
a national milestone as they were the first<br />
Remote Sensing satellites to be fully-owned<br />
by a UAE entity.<br />
Sheikh Hamdan listened to a detailed<br />
presentation on KhalifaSat, the first satellite to<br />
be fully built and manufactured by the hands<br />
of competent UAE experts, due to be sent into<br />
orbit by 2018.<br />
The presentation shed light on other projects<br />
carried out by MBRSC, such as CubeSAT and<br />
Nayif-1, the first satellite designed to meet the<br />
scientific research needs of Emirati students<br />
at the American University of Sharjah.<br />
During the visit, His Highness checked<br />
the initial facilities for the manufacture of<br />
satellites, which include the Clean Room<br />
and laboratories that are allocated for<br />
electrical and mechanical engineering. These<br />
facilities were built and equipped according<br />
to the highest international standards and<br />
specifications, and constitute the first phase<br />
of the laboratories that are being currently<br />
Hamdan bin Mohammed on a tour of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre<br />
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed<br />
bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of<br />
Dubai, Chairman of the Dubai Executive<br />
Council and Chairman of the Mohammed bin<br />
Rashid Space Centre, chaired the first meeting<br />
in the centre located in Al Khawaneej, in the<br />
presence of the Board of Directors and the<br />
team. He was briefed on MBRSC’s projects,<br />
programs and future plans, in particular the<br />
“Hope” Probe mission to Mars.<br />
Sheikh Hamdan has directed the centre to<br />
Under the leadership<br />
of His Highness Sheik<br />
Khalifa bin Zayed Al<br />
Nahyan, the UAE will be a<br />
pioneer in the Arab region<br />
in the space field.<br />
work on a 15-year strategy based on the<br />
development of knowledge, human resources,<br />
the improvement of scientific and technological<br />
innovation, the development of the centre’s<br />
satellite systems, and the expansion of all<br />
space exploration programs.<br />
The strategy encompasses all space<br />
projects and programs to be developed by<br />
the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre,<br />
in line with the UAE and His Highness Sheik<br />
Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision<br />
for the country to become among the leading<br />
nations in the field of space by 2021.<br />
In the conversation with MBRSC officials<br />
ISSUE 02 ISSUE 02
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UAE Space News<br />
10 11<br />
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UAE Space News<br />
“Our task is to<br />
transfer and<br />
localise space<br />
science knowledge,<br />
and build Emirati<br />
generations that<br />
have the courage to<br />
compete with the<br />
major nations.”<br />
Hamdan bin Mohammed signing his lab overalls<br />
Observing the scientists at work in the MBRSC labs<br />
Hamdan bin Mohammed signs the decree<br />
constructed to be the infrastructure for the<br />
manufacture of satellites in the UAE.<br />
Sheikh Hamdan was briefed about the<br />
KhalifaSat project, and visited the ground<br />
station to monitor and follow up on the<br />
DubaiSat-1 and DubaiSat-2 missions, which<br />
revolve around data review and exchange, as<br />
well as satellite image analysis. The missions<br />
also aim to provide satellite imagery services<br />
and serve environmental and development<br />
projects, urban planning, infrastructure and<br />
applied scientific research in the UAE.<br />
After the tour, His Excellency Hamad Obaid Al<br />
Mansouri, Chairman of the Board of Directors<br />
at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre,<br />
said: “We take pride in the appointment of His<br />
Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed<br />
Al Maktoum as Chairman and General<br />
Supervisor of all projects at the centre and its<br />
strategic and development plans.<br />
“We are confident that the leadership of His<br />
Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al<br />
Maktoum, along with the wise guidance and<br />
vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed<br />
bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President,<br />
Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, in the<br />
space sector will lead us to accomplish greater<br />
things in space science and research to serve<br />
the ambitious aspirations of establishing a<br />
national economy based on knowledge and<br />
innovation, in line with the UAE Vision 2021<br />
and the National Innovation Strategy.”<br />
He added: “The centre will provide all the<br />
initiatives, projects and programs that will<br />
enhance the competitive component of the<br />
space sector in the UAE, thus positioning<br />
Dubai as a leading global hub for the science<br />
and space industry. The centre will also<br />
continue to work on its knowledge transfer<br />
strategy through strategic partnerships, as<br />
well as scientific and academic alliances that<br />
open up promising opportunities to strengthen<br />
local research capabilities, all of which form a<br />
quality addition to the scientific, academic and<br />
research community in the space sector.”<br />
Al Mansouri concluded by saying: “The UAE<br />
has taken large and steady steps in the<br />
space, technology and satellite manufacturing<br />
sectors. The development of a highly efficient<br />
national nucleus of effort is at the core of<br />
building a sustainable future for the space<br />
sector, not only to serve all development<br />
projects in the UAE, but also to enrich human<br />
knowledge around the world.”<br />
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UAE Space News<br />
12 13 DISCOVER<br />
UAE Space News<br />
Learning some of the technical procedures in the labs<br />
Meeting the team at MBRSC<br />
For his part, Yousef Al Shaibani, General<br />
Director of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space<br />
Centre explained that the plan directed by His<br />
Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed<br />
is of vital importance to improve innovation<br />
in the work the centre carries out, and to<br />
make Emirati dreams come true through the<br />
knowledge gained from now until 2021, and<br />
then 2030.<br />
He also shed light on the visit of His Highness<br />
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed to the centre,<br />
and the meetings that were held during which<br />
HH was accurately briefed about the details<br />
of the different projects MBRSC is involved<br />
in. At the end of the meeting, HH directed<br />
the centre to adopt creativity and innovation<br />
in its long-term strategic planning, which<br />
reflects the successful approach of the UAE<br />
leadership as it strives to provide all the<br />
success requirements of its vision.<br />
Al Shaibani added that “All the employees and<br />
teams at MBRSC were heartened by the visit<br />
of His Highness the Chairman of the centre,<br />
and the direct meetings with him. His visit<br />
motivated us to continue our journey in the<br />
pursuit of success and achievements until we<br />
position the UAE among the most developed<br />
countries in the field of space and advanced<br />
technology.”<br />
Hamad Obaid Al Mansouri, Chairman of the Board of Directors at MBRSC:<br />
MBRSC will play a leading role in the<br />
UAE’s journey towards future success<br />
In an interview with Majarat, His Excellency Hamad Al Mansouri sheds<br />
light on the strategic paths for MBRSC after the affiliation of the Emirates<br />
Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) with the centre.<br />
His Excellency Hamad Obaid Al Mansouri<br />
leads the general policies and strategies of<br />
MBRSC, through his position as the Chairman<br />
of Board of Directors. He also plays a key<br />
role in several national initiatives such as the<br />
smart government, assuming the position of<br />
Director General of the General Authority for<br />
Regulating the Telecommunications Sector.<br />
Majarat: What is the mission and role of<br />
MBRSC in terms of making a positive change<br />
locally and regionally in the coming period?<br />
Hamad Al Mansouri: “The centre works<br />
towards supporting and fulfilling government<br />
directives in the space sector, as well as<br />
establishing an integrated infrastructure for<br />
satellite manufacturing within the UAE. The<br />
centre is also responsible for overseeing the<br />
design, manufacture and launch of the Hope<br />
probe. The centre’s mission is to establish a<br />
local scientific and technological renaissance<br />
in the UAE and the Arab world, and to develop<br />
human knowledge in science and scientific<br />
discoveries.”<br />
Majarat: What have been the centre’s<br />
achievements during its first ten years?<br />
Group photo with the new chairman<br />
Hamad Al Mansouri: “MBRSC has achieved<br />
success in all the tasks entrusted to it, such<br />
as the designing, building and launching of<br />
two satellites that provide imagery to so many<br />
global institutions. The centre offers many<br />
services for a wide segment of customers,<br />
and recently we finished building the initial<br />
scientific laboratories in accordance with<br />
the highest international standards, which<br />
our engineers use in the completion of all<br />
scientific projects.<br />
“Our teams are currently working on the<br />
Hope probe project under the supervision of<br />
the UAE Space Agency. Choosing the centre<br />
to perform such a leading role reflects our<br />
leaders’ confidence in the team, and we<br />
will do our best to prove ourselves worthy<br />
of this responsibility, especially since this<br />
task was assigned to MBRSC based on its<br />
broad expertise and knowledge, as well as<br />
the success the centre has achieved in the<br />
previous space projects.”<br />
Majarat: As Chairman of MBRSC, His<br />
Highness Sheikh Hamdan directed the centre<br />
to develop a strategic plan, what is the centre’s<br />
strategic plan for the next decade?<br />
Hamad Al Mansouri: “Currently, we are<br />
studying a number of scientific projects<br />
targeted at enabling us to establish an<br />
infrastructure for a knowledge-based<br />
economy and advanced science. This stage<br />
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UAE Space News<br />
will be formulated by 100% Emirati minds,<br />
thus contributing to enhancing knowledge and<br />
innovation, as well placing the UAE among the<br />
leading developed countries in the space field.<br />
“According to the strategic plan, which is<br />
still under development, the centre will be<br />
responsible for promoting innovation in<br />
space science and launching scientific and<br />
educational programs in collaboration with<br />
specialised international entities. The centre<br />
will also fund research and innovation projects<br />
related to space.<br />
“MBRSC will serve vital development sectors<br />
in the country through utilising the best<br />
international practices and applications in<br />
advanced space technologies. In order to<br />
accomplish its objectives, the centre will<br />
have the right to establish new technological<br />
companies, invest in satellite projects, launch<br />
space projects and fund space-related<br />
research and activities. It will coordinate with<br />
the government, regional and global bodies<br />
and hold specialised conferences, as well as<br />
develop regional and global networks in the<br />
field of science and the applications of space<br />
technology.”<br />
Majarat: Do you think the UAE is ready to enter<br />
the global space exploration race? Are the<br />
Arab scientific teams capable of competing<br />
with countries that have accumulated a<br />
wealth of knowledge and scientific discoveries<br />
over the years?<br />
Hamad Al Mansouri: “Our wise leadership<br />
has identified the means to do this, which is<br />
to develop national organisations of qualified<br />
Emirati scientific teams and engineers who<br />
will design and build the probe and monitor<br />
its journey. The probe is scheduled to be<br />
launched in 2021, in time for the UAE’s Golden<br />
Jubilee, celebrating the 50th anniversary of<br />
the formulation of the nation.<br />
“The journey into space is not an easy task;<br />
it’s a mission fraught with epic challenges,<br />
but these challenges, as His Highness Sheikh<br />
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said,<br />
inspire us and motivate us. We are fully aware<br />
that a journey of a thousand miles begins<br />
with a single step, and the Hope probe is our<br />
first step towards entering the global race to<br />
explore Mars.<br />
“His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid<br />
said, “Arab people can contribute to humanity<br />
through great achievements, given the right<br />
circumstances and ingredients. Our region<br />
is a region of civilisation. Our destiny is, once<br />
again, to explore, to create, to build and to<br />
civilise.”<br />
“At the centre we seek to build a national<br />
research base, and develop specialised<br />
teams through transferring knowledge from<br />
international partners. We did this when<br />
building DubaiSat-1 and DubaiSat-2, and we<br />
will do the same for the Hope probe. The aim<br />
is to build a scientific base and to develop the<br />
UAE space sector to become a strategic sector<br />
in the national economy, thus contributing to<br />
the development of other sectors.”<br />
We develop an<br />
integrated vision for<br />
distinguished and<br />
unique projects to<br />
strengthen the role<br />
of space science<br />
and research in the<br />
national economy.<br />
Majarat: What is the scientific payoff of<br />
space science with regard to the social and<br />
economic development?<br />
Hamad Al Mansouri: “Space science is not<br />
a scientific luxury driven by curiosity and a<br />
thirst for knowledge. Space inventions have<br />
always inspired humanity, and provided it<br />
with a lot of inventions and innovations that<br />
became part of our daily lives. The UAE<br />
space programs constitute a quantum leap<br />
in building an economy that is based on<br />
knowledge and innovation, and they consist<br />
of developmental and educational objectives.<br />
Space science is an important part of all our<br />
economic development projects, and it plays<br />
a major role in raising the production levels<br />
and standards in manufacturing countries<br />
as they adopt the highest and most accurate<br />
production standards. Space science also<br />
encourages institutions and the educational<br />
system to direct their educational process<br />
and social development towards innovation<br />
and creativity.”<br />
Majarat: What is your role in the smart<br />
government initiative, and what are the<br />
challenges you face in order to provide hightech<br />
smart government services in the light of<br />
the initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh<br />
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum?<br />
Hamad Al Mansouri: “His Highness Sheikh<br />
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has set<br />
the ultimate objective of developing a smart<br />
government. The transition for residents will<br />
be from a satisfied customer to a happy one,<br />
through a creative government that provides<br />
services which exceed their expectations.<br />
His Highness said: “Today, we want to take<br />
government service centres to clients who<br />
can submit their applications through a<br />
mobile phone or any other mobile device<br />
from any place without waiting. A successful<br />
government is one which goes to clients<br />
wherever they are and doesn’t wait for them<br />
to come to it.” He added: “Our ambition in the<br />
short term is to link smart services federally<br />
and locally and to provide a single-window<br />
system to the customer wherever he is and<br />
whatever the service is, as the customer is<br />
looking to us as one state and one integrated<br />
work environment.”<br />
“In this context and in order to achieve the<br />
vision of His Highness within the specified<br />
time frame, Dubai Smart Government, in<br />
cooperation with the Ministry of Cabinet<br />
Affairs and federal and local authorities,<br />
formed a national work team concerned with<br />
moving towards achieving those objectives.”<br />
Majarat: What are the steps you have taken<br />
regarding the smart government to link<br />
government services federally and locally?<br />
Hamad Al Mansouri: “First we analysed and<br />
studied the behaviour of a smart customer,<br />
and drafted a clearly defined two-year<br />
roadmap including the transition path from<br />
e-government to smart government. We also<br />
developed the Electronic Federal Network,<br />
which is the infrastructure that links between<br />
various government departments and entities<br />
locally and federally.<br />
“We have also developed an electronic/smart<br />
platform to assess the federal authorities’<br />
progress in the application of smart<br />
government enablers, as well as the Centre of<br />
Digital Creativity of the UAE smart government<br />
to be an integrated platform, offering a range<br />
of services and solutions related to overseeing<br />
the training of government employees.<br />
Sheikh Mohammed announcing the establishment of the Smart Government two years ago.<br />
“In addition to that, we provide consulting<br />
services through a specialised team with<br />
extensive experience in this area, and we<br />
have implemented a smart government<br />
training program aimed at strengthening the<br />
smart government culture and improving<br />
competencies and capabilities in this<br />
vital area. This program is not limited to<br />
government employees, but also IT students<br />
and job seekers can benefit from it, through<br />
involving them remotely in training courses.<br />
“Furthermore, we have developed the smart<br />
application lab that offers an integrated<br />
platform through which various tests for the<br />
verification of security and quality standards<br />
of mobile applications are performed for<br />
local and federal government and academic<br />
entities. After completion of all tests, the<br />
applications are then displayed on the official<br />
UAE Government App Store, which is available<br />
on the Apple App Store and Google Play.<br />
“Thus, the UAE government launched the<br />
world’s first store for smart government<br />
applications on various platforms. The<br />
store features over 100 smart applications<br />
developed by the UAE local and federal<br />
agencies.”<br />
Majarat: How do you develop and motivate<br />
work teams? What are the aspects you<br />
focus on to improve the performance and to<br />
transform a vision into reality?<br />
Hamad Al Mansouri: “We perform our<br />
tasks in line with the quality and excellence<br />
standards adopted by our wise leadership.<br />
We focus on planning, promoting a sense of<br />
belonging and creating a work environment<br />
that encourages creativity and innovation,<br />
as well as strengthening the relationship<br />
between employees to build harmonious and<br />
cooperative work teams.<br />
“The human resources policy at the centre<br />
helps employees achieve a work-life balance<br />
and provides them with career advancement<br />
opportunities. For my part, I believe that<br />
continuous training and education, and the<br />
transfer of knowledge to work teams are the<br />
best ways to maximise employees’ capabilities<br />
and develop their skills, thus preparing them<br />
to take on new responsibilities.<br />
“Consequently, we can develop work teams<br />
according to the highest scientific standards,<br />
through continuous follow-up. We want to<br />
enter a new phase of development depending<br />
on a knowledge-based economy, and this can<br />
be achieved through intellectual capital. Our<br />
technical and administrative organisations<br />
have proved that they are capable of achieving<br />
highest levels of excellence and success…”<br />
ISSUE 02 ISSUE 02
DISCOVER<br />
UAE Space News<br />
16 17<br />
DISCOVER<br />
UAE Space News<br />
Emirates Mars Mission Project Manager, Omran Sharaf:<br />
MBRSC offers the best career<br />
opportunities for Emirati innovators<br />
Omran Sharaf shares with us some interesting information about the MBRSC Mars<br />
Hope Probe, and the opportunities that have arisen because of the project.<br />
Majarat: At MBRSC, you announced that the<br />
objective of the project is to study the climate<br />
conditions on the Red Planet. How was this<br />
objective identified, and why?<br />
Sharaf: “The scientific objectives of the UAE’s<br />
Mars mission project were identified based on<br />
studies and research carried out by the centre<br />
in collaboration with our strategic partners. It’s<br />
also based on recommendations from the global<br />
scientific community, including MEPAG (Mars<br />
Exploration Program Analysis Group), which is<br />
specialised in the analysis of Mars exploration<br />
programs.<br />
“Usually, scientific institutions and research<br />
centres suggest what they think would be<br />
a scientific benefit that serves humanity in<br />
general, fills a void in terms of information<br />
The Mars exploration<br />
project embodies<br />
educational objectives,<br />
and I encourage Emirati<br />
students to major in<br />
scientific disciplines<br />
and compliments other global efforts in the<br />
exploration of outer space. The UAE’s scientific<br />
contribution in this field aims to conduct a<br />
comprehensive and detailed study of the climate<br />
on the Red Planet. This study will be the first<br />
of its kind and will result in more than 1,000<br />
gigabytes of Mars data that will be shared with<br />
research centres and institutions worldwide.”<br />
Majarat: Are there any other objectives for the<br />
UAE Mars mission?<br />
Sharaf: “All space exploration projects have<br />
parallel objectives that are just as important as<br />
the scientific objectives. We have educational<br />
objectives targeted at school and college<br />
students, and all members of society through<br />
the production and localisation of knowledge.<br />
The project will also encourage research<br />
and innovation related to space discoveries,<br />
inventions and science. We hope to encourage<br />
new generations to take an interest in scientific<br />
disciplines as a result of the Mars project.”<br />
Majarat: How did you develop the initial design<br />
of the Hope probe?<br />
Sharaf: “The spacecraft design must comply<br />
with the scientific objectives of the project. When<br />
we developed the initial design of the Hope<br />
probe, we took into consideration these scientific<br />
goals. Our team of scientists, engineers and<br />
technicians joined hands to design the probe,<br />
which will be equipped with smart devices<br />
capable of accurate data collection. We ran a<br />
number of brainstorming sessions between the<br />
Hope probe team and our strategic partners,<br />
which resulted in the initial design of the Hope<br />
probe.”<br />
Majarat: MBRSC has announced that at least<br />
150 Emirati engineers are needed for the Hope<br />
Probe project. How do you plan to find the UAE<br />
scientific teams required?<br />
Sharaf: “It is true that we will find ourselves in<br />
the position of needing more scientific teams,<br />
engineers and technicians as the project<br />
progresses. Therefore, I encourage Emirati<br />
students who have a passion for science and<br />
technology to major in subjects such as physics,<br />
mathematics, mechanical and electrical<br />
engineering, chemistry, software, computer<br />
science, and other scientific disciplines.<br />
Employment opportunities are now available<br />
at MBRSC for talented Emiratis with distinctive,<br />
creative and innovative minds.<br />
“This project aims to transfer, localise and<br />
develop space science knowledge. We have<br />
an agreement with our partners on that. The<br />
experience that the team has gathered from<br />
the manufacturing process performed on both<br />
DubaiSat-1 and DubaiSat-2 will form the basis<br />
of a strong foundation for us to be able to build<br />
the Hope Probe and deliver the project within<br />
the proposed timeframe, Insha’ Allah.”<br />
Majarat: Is it mandatory that Emirati engineers<br />
applying to work on the Hope probe mission hold<br />
degrees from scientifically advanced foreign<br />
countries, to ensure that they have a high level<br />
scientific education?<br />
Sharaf: “No! More than 95% of MBRSC’s<br />
employees are graduates from UAE universities,<br />
and a large number are currently developing<br />
their academic and scientific programs in a<br />
way to meet the needs of strategic projects,<br />
especially the Emirates Mars project.<br />
UAE universities continue to graduate<br />
scientifically qualified engineers, technicians<br />
and administrators with the necessary skills<br />
required to work on the UAE Mars mission<br />
project. We are proud of our students who<br />
graduated from Emirati universities, and they<br />
all have high scientific and academic standards.<br />
Our universities have proven their capabilities<br />
in meeting the need of technical sectors that<br />
are more scientifically specialised. MBRSC will<br />
employ the best Emirati science and research<br />
talent in various disciplines, as well as the most<br />
qualified technical teams.”<br />
Majarat: The Emirates Mars project was<br />
assigned to MBRSC by the country’s leadership,<br />
what do you feel about this ambitious mission<br />
and the challenges that you face? Has your<br />
lifestyle been affected by the responsibility of<br />
this mission?<br />
Sharaf: “The declaration of His Highness Sheikh<br />
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan (may God protect<br />
him) to establish the UAE Space Agency and the<br />
Mars mission project marked the UAE’s entry<br />
into the space age. The objective is to boost<br />
development and develop scientific capabilities,<br />
as well as to provide knowledge contributions<br />
to mankind.<br />
“Epic challenges inspire us and motivate us.”<br />
This is the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed<br />
bin Rashid; a vision that carved the path<br />
towards a bright future, and we are working<br />
passionately and enthusiastically around the<br />
clock to accomplish this vision. Experiences in<br />
the UAE have taught us that the road towards<br />
achieving progress and development is filled<br />
with challenges. But at the same time, it’s<br />
Members of the Hope Probe team at work<br />
promising and prosperous and will certainly<br />
contribute to shaping the future of our country.<br />
We are proud and happy because the leadership<br />
trusted us with such a mission.<br />
“The team is working continuously to make<br />
this project happen, and we realise the big<br />
responsibilty that we have taken on here. We<br />
look to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid as a<br />
source of inspiration to us, and he has always<br />
given his continuous support to the centre in<br />
all the projects we have undertaken. We are<br />
committed to participating fully in making his<br />
vision come to light.<br />
“This project has become a major part of all our<br />
lives. The team members travel in consecutive<br />
trips based on a drawn plan, to meet with<br />
partners and inform scientific research centres<br />
in a number of leading universities about our<br />
project, to hopefully coordinate with them. ”<br />
Majarat: Could you tell us about your education<br />
and the experience you have gained at MBRSC?<br />
Sharaf: “I joined MBRSC in 2006 and was a<br />
member of the team that developed DubaiSat-1,<br />
DubaiSat-2 and KhalifaSat. I graduated from the<br />
University of Virginia in the United States with<br />
a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.<br />
During my participation in developing DubaiSat-2<br />
in 2013, I earned my Master’s degree in science<br />
and technology policies from the Korea Institute<br />
of Science and Technology in South Korea.”<br />
ISSUE 02 ISSUE 02
NASA discovers new Earth<br />
The Kepler mission, a space observatory launched into<br />
orbit by NASA in 2009, has discovered the first Earth-like<br />
planet that exists within a “habitable zone”, meaning life<br />
could well exist upon it.<br />
18 19<br />
takes just 5% longer than we do to completely<br />
orbit our sun, which can be calculated, as it’s<br />
5% farther from its sun than us.<br />
John Grusfeld, as administrator of NASA’s<br />
Science Mission Directorate had this to<br />
say on the historic confirmation: “On the<br />
20th anniversary year of the discovery that<br />
proved other suns host planets, the Kepler<br />
exoplanet explorer has discovered a planet<br />
and star which most closely resemble the<br />
Earth and our Sun, this exciting result brings<br />
us one step closer to finding an Earth 2.0.”<br />
While its mass and composition are not yet<br />
confirmed, a planet this size would usually be<br />
found to be rocky on the surface. Should all<br />
the elements exists to make life a possibility,<br />
it would seem very likely that, given the extra<br />
1.5 billion years Kepler-452b has on us, life<br />
would potentially be at a far more advanced<br />
stage than we find ourselves at. The balance<br />
for life to exist is multifarious and very fragile,<br />
but Kepler-452b looks to be not only the best<br />
candidate for life we have ever found, but in<br />
On the 20th anniversary<br />
year of the discovery<br />
that proved other suns<br />
host planets, the Kepler<br />
exoplanet explorer<br />
has produced an exciting<br />
result that brings<br />
us one step closer to<br />
finding an Earth 2.0.<br />
DISCOVER<br />
International Space News<br />
actual fact, all the evidence gathered thus far<br />
seems to make the existence of some kind of<br />
life form as much of a certainty as it possibly<br />
could be, considering it is located 1,400 lightyears<br />
away.<br />
And therein lies the problem. In all likelihood<br />
the human race will never, ever make it to<br />
Kepler-452b. The very idea of the planet lying<br />
1,400 light years away may be difficult to<br />
comprehend, but to put it into context, light<br />
travels at 186,000 miles per second, which<br />
is 5,865,696,000,000 miles in a year. Multiply<br />
this by 1,400, and the numbers become far<br />
more confusing.<br />
But with current technology, it would take<br />
roughly 33,000 years for us to reach Kepler-<br />
452b. Perhaps with the additional experience<br />
accumulated from the extra 1.5 billion years<br />
they’ve been evolving for, the inhabitants of<br />
Kepler-452b – if there are any - may well<br />
be in a position to be able to get to Earth far<br />
sooner than we would to them, but for now,<br />
we must just stare at the skies and wonder…<br />
An artist’s impression of Kepler-452b<br />
A milestone has been reached in the human<br />
race’s continuing quest to find life on another<br />
planet, as NASA has confirmed the discovery<br />
of Kepler-452b, a planet estimated to be<br />
about 60% larger than Earth, and which takes<br />
385 days to orbit its own Sun – Kepler-452.<br />
“Earths cousin”, as Kepler-452b has been<br />
labelled, is part of the Kepler-452 system,<br />
and was confirmed by a ground observation<br />
team as a planet at the same time 11 other<br />
potential planets were added to the list<br />
of small habitable zone candidate planets,<br />
which now features 4,696 planet candidates.<br />
There are now 1,030 confirmed planets in<br />
existence with the addition of Kepler-452b.<br />
The newly confirmed planet has caused<br />
such excitement among scientists on Earth<br />
because it is in the habitable area of orbit<br />
around its star, where liquid water could<br />
pool on the surface. Its sun, Kepler-452,<br />
is a G2-type star the same as ours, and is<br />
estimated to be six billion years old, which<br />
is 1.5 billion years older than our sun and it<br />
is 20% brighter and 10% larger. The planet<br />
Kepler-452b comes closest to any planet found so far to matching our Earth-sun system. These are the habitable-zone planets with similarities to Earth:<br />
from left, Kepler-22b, Kepler-69c, the just announced Kepler-452b, Kepler-62f and Kepler-186f. Earth is last.<br />
ISSUE 02 ISSUE 02
DISCOVER<br />
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21<br />
DISCOVER<br />
International Space News<br />
International Space News<br />
The spacecraft then spent nearly nine hours<br />
looking back at the planet taking pictures and<br />
conducting a series of experiments to study its<br />
atmosphere.<br />
Pluto was for decades considered to be a<br />
barren, icy world, but signs of geological activity<br />
are very much apparent in some of the images<br />
received so far, and there is also evidence of<br />
current activity just under the surface in the<br />
form of plate tectonics, or crust movements.<br />
Flowing ice and a hazy atmosphere are two of<br />
the most surprising and significant discoveries<br />
that have come as a result of the flypast, but the<br />
images and data have so far left more questions<br />
than answers. It would also appear that a<br />
mountain range whose formation dates back<br />
only 100 million years, has uncovered a notion<br />
once thought impossible for somewhere like<br />
Pluto – that geological activity is clearly on-going,<br />
but that it’s not as a result of heat created from<br />
the gravitational pull of a larger planetary body.<br />
Something else is causing Pluto’s surface to<br />
change, and we don’t know what.<br />
“We knew that a mission to Pluto would<br />
bring some surprises, and now 10 days after<br />
the closest approach we can say that our<br />
expectations have been more than surpassed,”<br />
said John Grunsfeld, NASA’s associate<br />
administrator for the Science Mission<br />
Directorate. “With flowing ices, exotic surface<br />
chemistry, mountain ranges, and vast haze,<br />
Pluto is showing a diversity of planetary geology<br />
that is truly thrilling.”<br />
Flowing ice has only ever been found on<br />
active surfaces, such as Earth and Mars, so to<br />
discover something similar on a surface that<br />
is on average -230°C in a world 4.67 billion<br />
miles from our own, has been something of a<br />
revelation to scientists. As one put it: “We’re<br />
going to need some new ideas to figure out<br />
what’s going on.”<br />
New Horizons spacecraft<br />
9 years and three billion miles<br />
July 2015: New<br />
Horizons passed<br />
within 6,000 miles<br />
of the frozen<br />
dwarf planet<br />
An artist’s impression of New Horizons passing by Pluto<br />
New Horizons, new discoveries<br />
The New Horizons spacecraft has successfully survived a<br />
flypast of former planet Pluto on the very edge of our Solar<br />
System, and has sent back the most detailed images of the<br />
mysterious dwarf planet we’ve ever seen.<br />
2007-2014: For most of<br />
the eight-year trek from<br />
Jupiter to Pluto, the craft<br />
span slowly in a state of<br />
“hibernation”<br />
2014: Monitoring<br />
began 200 days<br />
before the closest<br />
approach to Pluto<br />
NASA initially launched the New Horizons<br />
mission nine years ago now, and its voyage<br />
has since carried it more than three billion<br />
miles, with speeds reaching in excess of 31,000<br />
miles per hour. The spacecraft lay dormant<br />
for much of its journey to the outer reaches<br />
of our solar system, until all systems were<br />
engaged in preparation for its day of destiny, a<br />
close encounter with the most mysterious and<br />
unknown former planet in the solar system.<br />
Scientists actually know very little about Pluto,<br />
a fact demonstrated by its downgrading from<br />
a planet to a dwarf planet in 2006. This was<br />
due to the discovery that it had not cleared its<br />
neighbouring region of objects of a similar size<br />
during its orbit of the Sun. But our apparent lack<br />
of access to in-depth knowledge, in comparison<br />
with the eight remaining planets in the solar<br />
system, has already changed forever.<br />
New Horizons finally made contact with Earth<br />
after an agonising 13-hour wait from the<br />
time the flypast occurred, sparking rapturous<br />
applause and celebrations in the mission<br />
control centre at the John Hopkins University<br />
Applied Physics Lab, outside Baltimore,<br />
Maryland, USA.<br />
In the lead up to the flypast, during and after<br />
it, New Horizons transmitted a number of<br />
stunning images of Pluto back to Earth, all<br />
of which have given scientists a very different<br />
understanding of the icy dwarf planet.<br />
But as 99% of the data gathered by New Horizons<br />
still remained aboard the craft, news that the<br />
flypast was successfully traversed brought with<br />
it a mixture of relief and delight. It will now<br />
take more than 16 months for the thousands<br />
of images and measurements taken during the<br />
flypast to be transmitted back to Earth.<br />
New Horizons came within 7,700 miles of Pluto,<br />
and passed at an astonishing 31,000 mph.<br />
Jan – Feb 2006:<br />
Launched from<br />
Cape Canaveral,<br />
Florida<br />
Feb- Mar 2007: New<br />
Horizons passed Jupiter<br />
on Feb. 28, 2007<br />
ISSUE 02 ISSUE 02
DISCOVER<br />
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DISCOVER<br />
International Space News<br />
International Space News<br />
Virgin Galactic tragedy blamed on pilot error<br />
NASA will take<br />
astronauts to<br />
an asteroid<br />
NASA is in the process of developing the Space<br />
Launch System (SLS) megarocket, which will<br />
take astronauts to Mars and more distant<br />
asteroids. The megarocket has a tentative<br />
first launch target of sometime in 2018, and<br />
will initially take unmanned spacecraft to preagreed<br />
targets at far higher speeds than ever<br />
managed before.<br />
Russian space sureveillance station reaches full capacity<br />
China to build<br />
the biggest radio<br />
telescope in the<br />
world<br />
An official investigation has concluded that the<br />
deadly crash of a Virgin Galactic spacecraft in<br />
California last year was caused by the co-pilot<br />
unlocking the braking system earlier than he<br />
should have.<br />
According to the National Transportation Safety<br />
Board (NTSB) and their investigation team,<br />
there were no safeguards in place to be able to<br />
guard against this error. The co-pilot died in the<br />
accident, while the pilot was severely injured as<br />
the spaceship broke apart in the Mojave Desert<br />
during the test flight.<br />
The co-pilot, named Michael Alsbury, is said to<br />
have unlocked the feathering system that slows<br />
down the spacecraft descent during re-entry. It<br />
was this action which caused the SpaceShipTwo<br />
rocket to break up, the NTSB concluded.<br />
Virgin Galactic is owned British billionaire, Sir<br />
Richard Branson, and his Virgin Group. They are<br />
now building a new spacecraft to replace the 60ft<br />
SpaceShipTwo. Virgin Galactic is set to become<br />
the first commercial “spaceline”, and despite<br />
the tragic circumstances surrounding the death<br />
of one and serious injury of another experienced<br />
pilot, Branson has vowed to continue with the<br />
project.<br />
Millionaires and celebrities are among the<br />
first passengers to have already booked their<br />
“spaceflight” once the Virgin enterprise does in<br />
fact launch. Customers have been parting with<br />
up to $250,000 for the two or three-hour journey<br />
that will take them around 63 miles above the<br />
Earth. Branson has also recently expressed his<br />
desire to build the first Space Hotel.<br />
Kimiya Yui becomes the 10th Japanese man in space<br />
With its extra load-bearing capabilities, the<br />
SLS will enable deep-space exploration and<br />
astronomy by having the capacity to carry<br />
larger and heavier telescopes out of the<br />
Earth’s atmosphere. NASA representatives<br />
claim that SLS could even launch entire<br />
space observatories, using the extra 20% of<br />
thrust in comparison with the Saturn V rocket,<br />
which carried astronauts towards the moon<br />
between 1966 and 1973.<br />
After a long delay, and much trepidation, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui has finally reached<br />
the International Space Station (ISS), along with astronauts from the US and Russia. A Soyuz<br />
spacecraft reached the ISS six hours after its launch from Kazakhstan, docking with the<br />
station so as Yui, 45, commander Oleg Kononenko, 51, and Kjell Lindgren, 42, could begin<br />
their mission.<br />
Yui has a long-term stay ahead of him, and will have the task of carrying out a number of<br />
experiments aboard the station during his five-month stay. The Japanese Prime Minister,<br />
Shinzo Abe called Yui a “star of middle-agers” and wished him well on his voyage, while<br />
more than 600 people gathered in his hometown of Kawalami to watch a public screening of<br />
the launch. The spacecraft was initially scheduled for a launch in May, but was subsequently<br />
delayed due to technical investigations relating to a failed launch attempt of a similar rocket the month before. Yui and his colleagues<br />
from Russia and the US will be working to collect data that could eventually help a manned flight to Mars become a reality.<br />
The Russian Ministry of Defence has announced that Okno-M, a Russian-operated space<br />
surveillance system based in Tajikistan, has now reached full capacity, and is performing at a<br />
level four times more powerful than it had previously been doing.<br />
Okno-M is an optoelectronic system that detects objects in space, and forms an integral part<br />
of the Russian network of space surveillance stations. The upgrades will allow Okno-M to<br />
automatically collate information on, and monitor space objects at a distance of up to 40,000km.<br />
The station is only ever active at night, using sunlight reflected on the objects to gather the<br />
information it requires. Okno-M has become fully automated and needs no human intervention<br />
to run its systems. Since 1999 the station has detected and measured over 10 million objects in<br />
space, monitored 560 spacecraft orbit insertions and recorded foreign spacecraft manoeuvres.<br />
The station primarily monitors foreign satellites, and was, during the Cold War years, thought to<br />
be a laser powered antimissile station, which it wasn’t.<br />
Europe’s last Meteosat now under EUMETSAT control<br />
EUMETSAT has assumed control of the Meteosat<br />
Second Generation weather satellite, MSG-4 following<br />
its successful launch in mid-July from the European<br />
Spaceport in French Guiana.<br />
The ESA managed the initial launch and Early Orbit<br />
Phase (EOP), but now the satellite is in geostationary<br />
orbit, and all components have been tested for<br />
functionality, EUMETSAT will now begin commissioning<br />
the satellite. The commissioning relates to a twomonth<br />
assessment, four months of imaging and<br />
product testing, before permanent orbit storage for<br />
on-going services. The first images have been beamed back to Earth already from the MSG-4’s SEVIRI<br />
imager, and have confirmed that the launch and orbit had no ill-effects on the functionality of the<br />
weather satellite.<br />
THE ESA is a multi-faceted space agency, operating in the fields of Earth observation,<br />
telecommunications, navigations and astronomy, while also contributing and collaborating in human<br />
space exploration projects.<br />
China officials have announced the<br />
Chinese space program will begin work<br />
on developing and constructing the world’s<br />
largest radio telescope. The huge dish will<br />
be based in the Guizhou Province, and will<br />
give China’s space program access to its<br />
own data, independent of any collaboration<br />
or reliance on international agencies.<br />
Wu Xiangping, Director-general of the<br />
Chinese Astronomical Society told the<br />
Xinhua news agency that the Chinese<br />
reliance on data from other space programs<br />
has for a long time impeded the progress<br />
of the Chinese space program, progress<br />
which will now be able to move forward<br />
independently.<br />
The dish will have a perimeter of<br />
approximately one mile, and will be<br />
isolated in a mountainous area of the<br />
region, meaning that there will be little or<br />
no interference from surrounding towns<br />
or cities. The Chinese hope to be able to<br />
use the giant radio telescope to search<br />
for intelligent life outside the galaxy, while<br />
also trying to discover the story behind the<br />
origins of the universe.<br />
China further cemented its commitment to<br />
space exploration by recently announcing its<br />
intention to make the first human landing<br />
on the far side of the moon by 2020, and has<br />
also expressed an interest in collaborating<br />
with the global International Space Station<br />
programs, a move which has been blocked<br />
by the US on the grounds of national<br />
security concerns<br />
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Smithsonian raises $550,000 to save Armstrong<br />
space suit<br />
Time has not been kind to the space suit of Neil<br />
Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, in the<br />
46 years following one of the greatest exploits ever<br />
carried out by a human.<br />
The iconic space suit has slowly deteriorated<br />
over the decades, despite being locked away in a<br />
climate-controlled storage space. But a campaign<br />
launched on the Kickstarter website – the world’s<br />
largest funding platform for creative projects – in<br />
collaboration with the Smithsonian Institute, has<br />
ensured the preservation of this piece of history,<br />
and will see it go back on display in the National<br />
Air and Space Museum. More than $550,000 has<br />
been pledged through the Kickstarter campaign,<br />
surpassing the initial target of $500,000, meaning<br />
the suit worn on the Apollo 11 mission will be able to<br />
inspire a new generation of space enthusiasts, and<br />
the generation after that.<br />
Over 7,000 backers pledged money to cover the<br />
costs of preserving Armstrong’s suit, and building<br />
a special display case for it. It will now be the main<br />
attraction in a special Smithsonian exhibition covering lunar exploration to mark the 50th<br />
anniversary of the moon landing in 2019. The typical space suits designed at the time were made<br />
primarily to protect astronauts and withstand the rigours of space travel. No attention was paid<br />
to the idea of preserving the suits as an artefact 50 years down the line. As such, the delicate<br />
polymers used in the suit’s design become unstable and break down as time goes by.<br />
The Smithsonian will address the gradual deterioration of the suit, and have extended the<br />
funding project with the hope of being able to preserve the space suit worn by the first American<br />
in space, Alan Shepard, in 1961.<br />
SpaceX gets reprieve<br />
The SpaceX CRS-7 mission to the International<br />
Space Station (ISS) in July ended in disaster<br />
as the rocket exploded just moments after its<br />
launch at Cape Canaveral, destroying 4,000<br />
pounds of supplies and a docking station for<br />
ISS in the process.<br />
The disaster came only weeks after SpaceX<br />
had secured the certification required for<br />
the US government to be able to operate<br />
highly complex space launches, the like of<br />
which have been earmarked for $25 billion in<br />
government spending each year for the next<br />
decade. SpaceX had previously been unable<br />
to bid on these projects, but having won the right<br />
to, the accident came at a most inopportune time<br />
for them. This is further compounded by the fact<br />
that their main rival in the marketplace ULA has<br />
European Space Agency<br />
pursues the JUICE mission<br />
The European Space Agency (ESA) has penned<br />
a deal worth $380 million with French company<br />
Airbus Defense & Space, in the pursuit of seeing<br />
the JUICE (JUpiter ICy moons Explorer) mission<br />
to Jupiter and its moons, come to fruition in 2022.<br />
The JUICE mission will be the pièce de résistance<br />
of the ESA’s Cosmic Vision 2015-25 program, and<br />
after the targeted launch in 2022, is expected to<br />
arrive in the Jovian system in 2030. The mission<br />
will focus on Jupiter and its magnetic, turbulent<br />
atmosphere, while also investigating the moons<br />
Ganymede, Europa and Callisto, all of which are<br />
thought to be hiding giant oceans beneath their<br />
icy exteriors.<br />
The spacecraft will be manufactured in the<br />
French city of Toulouse, with contributions and<br />
support provided by other ESA member states<br />
such as Japan and the US.<br />
launched 96 missions in nine years with not a<br />
single explosion.<br />
But in what can only be described as a<br />
reprieve, the US Air Force has referred to the<br />
CRS-7 explosion as something of an anomaly,<br />
and has not reneged on its agreement that<br />
SpaceX are certified to be able undertake<br />
missions of a far more high-spec nature in the<br />
coming years. SpaceX has worked extremely<br />
hard, led by Elon Musk, to try to work out what<br />
went wrong, and with the resumption of their<br />
launch program due this month, they will be<br />
hoping that lightning doesn’t strike twice as<br />
the spotlight rests firmly upon them.<br />
Space telemedicine becomes commonplace on Earth<br />
New rocket drive could get to the moon in four hours<br />
A British-designed rocket, the EM Drive,<br />
has been successfully tested and could<br />
significantly speed up space travel, scientists<br />
have revealed.<br />
The rocket is powered by an electromagnetic<br />
propulsion drive, which was developed by<br />
British inventor Roger Shawyer almost<br />
15 years ago. At that time he was widely<br />
discredited and ridiculed as a fantasist<br />
by scientists who thought the idea to be<br />
“scientifically impossible” and “the stuff of<br />
fairy tales”.<br />
The EM Drive was designed to produce thrust<br />
using solar power. This power would generate,<br />
or energise a number of microwaves that<br />
move frantically within an enclosed chamber.<br />
Theoretically, this means that the rocket could<br />
keep on going infinitely, or until something<br />
wears down, without the need for rocket fuel.<br />
After a round of testing, scientists at NASA<br />
have come forward and said that they believe<br />
the EM Drive actually works, although they<br />
can’t explain why. The drive defies one of the<br />
core principles of physics – the conservation<br />
of momentum. This fundamental concept<br />
states that if something is propelled forward,<br />
something must be pushed in the opposite<br />
direction. By this principle, the forces at work<br />
in the chamber should, by all accounts, cancel<br />
each other out.<br />
Telemedicine was initially designed to overcome the distance between astronauts in need<br />
of expert medical assistance and the hospitals that lay back on Earth, while they floated<br />
through space. But now the telemed movement is finding its place in rural third world<br />
areas of the world, where medical experts and first class facilities, are in short supply.<br />
Telemedicine has its roots in NASA’s and the Soviet Union’s earliest space programs, as<br />
the agencies had no idea exactly how their astronauts/cosmonauts might react to being<br />
thrust through the Earth’s atmosphere into a void with no atmosphere at all. But now<br />
it has already been implemented in French Guyana, according to the European Space<br />
Policy Institute, and is helpful for a variety of cases.<br />
Telemedicine opens up the world to expert advice and guidance. If no doctor is available<br />
onsite, a telemedicine kit has been formulated to help diagnose whether the patient<br />
needs a hospital in a big city. This kit includes a computer and satellite phone, as well as<br />
an electrocardiogram, a digital camera and a microscope. This can then help forward the<br />
relevant information to the nearest hospital who will be able to provide their feedback.<br />
All aspects of the new telemedicine application has its roots in space technology, most notably exhibited by the satellite imagery which<br />
was essential to the swift aid response used during the African Ebola outbreak. Telemedicine is now to be rolled out across Africa, and<br />
is set to revolutionise health care for those in poverty across the world.<br />
But just this week, Professor Martin Tajmar,<br />
Chair for Space Systems at the Dresden<br />
University of Technology in Germany, was<br />
able to show that the EM Drive does indeed<br />
produce thrust.<br />
“Our test campaign cannot confirm or refute<br />
the claims of the EM Drive but intends to<br />
independently assess possible side effects in<br />
the measurement methods used so far,” the<br />
Professor announced.<br />
“Nevertheless, we do observe thrust close to<br />
the actual predictions after eliminating many<br />
possible error sources that should warrant<br />
further investigation into the phenomena. Our<br />
measurements reveal thrusts as expected<br />
from previous claims, after carefully studying<br />
thermal and electromagnetic interferences. If<br />
true, this could certainly revolutionise space<br />
travel.”<br />
The drive can produce a thrust several<br />
thousand times more powerful than that of a<br />
standard photon rocket, and would be able to<br />
reach the moon in four hours, Mars in 70 days,<br />
and Pluto in 18 months.<br />
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“How to succeed?<br />
Have a passion to seek to<br />
understand the world around you”<br />
Majarat speaks to one of the Arab world’s most revered<br />
Professors, Noureddine Melikechi, on space, Mars, the UAE<br />
and his ground-breaking work in Optical Science.<br />
Professor Noureddine Melikechi is part of<br />
the team working on NASA’s next mission<br />
to Mars, which is set to be launched in 2020.<br />
He is also a professor of physics, and is the<br />
Dean of the College of Mathematics, Natural<br />
Sciences and Technology at the University of<br />
Delaware in the United States.<br />
When it comes to the planet Mars, there<br />
aren’t many as insightful and engaging in<br />
their passion and knowledge of the subject<br />
as Professor Melikechi, but he wasn’t always<br />
destined to work on projects as fascinating as<br />
space exploration. Born and raised in a small<br />
town in Algeria, the largest country in the<br />
Arab world, there was very little in terms of<br />
an organised, government-funded education<br />
system. Instead, knowledge acquirement<br />
relied on the community pulling together to<br />
educate their young. “My interest in space<br />
exploration came relatively late in my life,” he<br />
tells us.<br />
become a significant actor in space science<br />
and technology, including navigation and<br />
exploration.<br />
“In my view, countries that adopt similar<br />
approaches and work to identify areas of<br />
science and technology will have a greater<br />
chance of developing their economies. If<br />
science exploration is within their means,<br />
and they wish to contribute to space science, I<br />
think they will find it rewarding because space<br />
science inspires and excites people.”<br />
While some still see the quest for new<br />
technology and new achievements in space<br />
as a competition in the mould of the US/<br />
Russian Cold War-influenced space race,<br />
Professor Melikechi sees that ideology as<br />
really rather outdated now. “I do not see<br />
current or new players in the space science<br />
area as challengers but rather as new<br />
partners for global collaboration. I hope that<br />
with time, we will see other countries, such<br />
as the UAE, partner with each other and the<br />
United States to use space to solve global<br />
issues such as monitoring the health of our<br />
The Curiosity Rover exploring Mars<br />
planet and its surroundings.<br />
“Space exploration has the potential to help us<br />
better understand the world that we live in and<br />
ultimately ourselves. In addition, programs<br />
in space science and technology can inspire<br />
new generations and can create opportunities<br />
and an environment for the development of<br />
new technologies. These programs require<br />
a multidisciplinary approach that brings<br />
together scientists and engineers from many<br />
fields. They contribute to the convergence<br />
of seemingly disjointed scientific and<br />
technological disciplines, which in turn can<br />
help solve big scientific and technological<br />
problems that can benefit societies.”<br />
Space exploration<br />
has the potential to help<br />
us better understand<br />
the world that<br />
we live in and<br />
ultimately ourselves.<br />
When it comes to the next NASA mission<br />
to Mars in 2020, Professor Melikechi has<br />
been assigned to the team responsible for<br />
the SuperCam, a remote sensor capable of<br />
identifying the composition of a subject from<br />
up to 20 feet away, using laser technology.<br />
This creation will form a critical element of<br />
the next generation Mars rover. So what next<br />
for the Professor? Firstly a trip to a Mars<br />
Summit in France where he will be discussing<br />
with the world’s foremost space scientists, a<br />
number of topics relating to the Red Planet.<br />
“I will be attending three sessions of the<br />
summit,” he tells us, “one will be dedicated<br />
to the Mars Science Laboratory in which<br />
updates and discussions on the mission and<br />
the Curiosity rover will take place. These are<br />
essential and productive because we have a<br />
chance to hear and discuss many aspects of<br />
the mission. This is a very important meeting<br />
because it provides not only updates but also<br />
an opportunity to learn and contribute to the<br />
Mars Science Laboratory project face-to-face.<br />
“As with many children, I looked at the sky<br />
and wanted to know and understand what<br />
was there. Was anyone there? However, I<br />
did not have the opportunity to explore these<br />
questions to the depth required, as I grew up<br />
in a town that had very little to offer in terms<br />
of space science.<br />
“Although my beautiful little town had at<br />
that time no high school, it had an awesome<br />
community committed to education. I was<br />
very interested in mathematics, physics, and<br />
biology and had the pleasure and privilege of<br />
having some of the best teachers one can ever<br />
hope for. This enhanced my love for learning.”<br />
After leaving Algeria to study a Masters and<br />
PHD in the seaside city of Brighton, England,<br />
and then working in a laboratory at the North-<br />
I looked at the sky<br />
and wanted to know<br />
and understand what<br />
was there…<br />
East London Polytechnic, Professor Melikechi<br />
returned to his homeland to complete his<br />
National Service in 1988. After teaching at<br />
Bab Ezzouar University for a period, in 1990<br />
he emigrated from Algeria to begin a career in<br />
the United States, where his voyage of space<br />
research and discovery began. “My scientific<br />
journey brought me naturally to explore<br />
questions that were very closely related to<br />
space,” he reflects.<br />
Professor Melikechi’s journey finished in the<br />
country at the forefront of the space sector,<br />
the United States, where he plays an integral<br />
role in NASA’s on-going research missions to<br />
Mars. The Professor is quick to offer up praise<br />
for the way America has embraced space<br />
science, and he believes other developing<br />
countries should do the same. “The United<br />
States has acquired tremendous knowledge<br />
and capabilities in space exploration. A few<br />
decades ago, the US decided that it was<br />
important to inspire its youth, educate and<br />
encourage them to learn about science,<br />
technology, engineering, and mathematics.<br />
“It invested energy and funds into education,<br />
research and big science, which led it to<br />
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“A second session will be focused on the<br />
results and operations of one of the ten<br />
instruments on board the Mars Curiosity<br />
rover: the Chemistry Camera. Finally and<br />
looking further into the future, we will be<br />
meeting about aspects of the Mars 2020<br />
mission and more specifically one of the<br />
instruments I am working on for the mission:<br />
the SuperCam.”<br />
interest the progress and ambition the UAE<br />
has demonstrated in the space science and<br />
technology sector.<br />
“I am delighted to know that the UAE has<br />
decided to take a giant step and engage in big<br />
science, discovery, and space exploration,” he<br />
notes, with a sense of discernible pride.<br />
In the memory of Abdul Kalam, India’s former<br />
President and greatest rocket scientist<br />
Although the Professor is kept busy with<br />
his work on Mars missions and space<br />
exploration, let us not forget that he also works<br />
on scientific research within his own lab in<br />
Delaware for the potential benefit of all of us.<br />
“I am currently pursuing a research program<br />
aimed at developing new and sensitive optical<br />
techniques, as well as powerful mathematical<br />
tools that can be used for the early detection<br />
of cancers,” he explains.<br />
“Essentially, in my laboratory we have<br />
developed a new approach based on tagging<br />
specific proteins (antibodies) with a nano or<br />
microparticle, and we then use lasers to<br />
identify the particle in biomedical fluids. The<br />
particle is detected if a cancer antigen binds<br />
to the antibody. Using this approach, we have<br />
obtained promising results so far, and we are<br />
moving to the next level of research: detecting<br />
multi-cancer biomarkers simultaneously. This<br />
technique has shown tremendous potential<br />
and we hope that it can help us identify and<br />
diagnose the presence of cancers at very<br />
early stages. This work brings together laser<br />
spectroscopy, nano-chemistry, and cancer<br />
diagnosis and has the potential to impact on<br />
disease prevention.”<br />
The Professor is of course very highly<br />
regarded in his field, but he is also extremely<br />
accommodating, down-to-earth and keen to<br />
share his expertise with anybody that shows<br />
an interest in his passion. For young Arabs<br />
hoping to emulate one of the outstanding<br />
scientists from the Arab world, he has the<br />
following words of encouragement: “Young<br />
Arabs are no different than young people<br />
from anywhere around the world except in<br />
the environment each faces everyday. For<br />
one person, life is such that information and<br />
knowledge is available by a simple click,<br />
while for another person obstacles are<br />
such that even dreaming about a preferred<br />
future becomes a challenge. Irrespective of<br />
one’s situation, my advice to you, the young<br />
Arab, is to believe in yourself, to follow your<br />
passion, and know that you can always impact<br />
positively your family, your neighbour, your<br />
The Curiosity Rover fires a laser beam on Mars<br />
Follow your passion,<br />
you can always impact<br />
positively your family,<br />
your neighbour, your<br />
community, your<br />
country, your region,<br />
and the world at large.<br />
community, your country, your region, and the<br />
world at large.<br />
“Whether space exploration or other scientific<br />
endeavours are of interest to you or not,<br />
you will need to build a foundation on which<br />
you can discover your passion, and grow in<br />
you whatever excites you. This foundation<br />
must include continuous and dedicated<br />
commitment to learning, and a passion to<br />
seek to understand the world around you. Is<br />
it hard to achieve this? It is not, provided that<br />
passion exists. If this is the case, what may be<br />
perceived as hardship actually becomes fun.<br />
“If science and technology are part of your<br />
passion, then work hard to master as much<br />
mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology<br />
as you possibly can. Realise that you are not<br />
alone and that people learn from one another.<br />
Develop and sustain learning networks,<br />
seek mentors who believe in you and are<br />
prepared to share with you their experiences<br />
and knowledge, and to help you achieve your<br />
dreams. This will help you learn to ask wellformulated<br />
questions, which are an essential<br />
and critical trait of a successful scientist.”<br />
News of the UAE’s Hope Probe Mission to<br />
Mars has been broadcast across the world,<br />
and Professor Melikechi has noted with great<br />
“This is a major and tremendous initiative<br />
for many reasons and if you allow me, I will<br />
cite a few. First, this is a clear sign that in the<br />
region, the desire to discover new scientific<br />
knowledge is strong. It is wonderful that<br />
despite all the troubles and all the difficulties<br />
that the region is facing, “Hope” exists. It<br />
reminds us that one should never give up<br />
hope.<br />
“Second, “Hope” is very likely to inspire young<br />
people of the region to dream big, to be<br />
engaged in science and technology, and for<br />
some of them to become great scientists,<br />
engineers and innovators. “Hope” can become<br />
the symbol for the engagement of the Arab<br />
youth in a beautiful, scientific journey.<br />
“Third, this initiative is very likely to yield<br />
key scientific and technological advances and<br />
will also help enhance our understanding of<br />
Earth and possibly the region itself. Often<br />
by exploring major scientific questions, we<br />
acquire knowledge that can be used to solve<br />
problems that seem far removed from the<br />
initial goal of the investigation. “Hope” can be<br />
a new bridge that connects the present to a<br />
better future for the UAE, its people, its region,<br />
and the world. It can trigger the scientific and<br />
technological rebirth of a region that has given<br />
so much to the world in terms of discovery<br />
and innovations in the past.”<br />
And so it is on the subject of Arab space<br />
exploration, and the desire for knowledge<br />
in the region, that we leave the Professor,<br />
and thank him for his time, thoughts and<br />
contribution to Majarat. “I am honoured and<br />
feel privileged to share with your readers<br />
my thoughts and am eager to learn more<br />
about the UAE’s “Hope” mission to Mars. It<br />
takes courage to launch such a mission. I am<br />
confident that history will show that this could<br />
be the beginning of a new era for young Arabs<br />
filled with the joy of creating new knowledge<br />
like our ancestors did a few centuries ago. I<br />
wish “Hope” much success…”<br />
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam has<br />
sadly passed away after suffering an apparent<br />
cardiac arrest during a lecture at the Indian<br />
Institute of Management in Shilong, aged 83.<br />
The 11th president of India, Kalam was<br />
immensely popular both nationally and<br />
internationally, and used his presidential role<br />
to reach out to the people in a manner that<br />
no other Indian politician had done before, or<br />
has done since.<br />
A middle-class icon, Kalam’s popularity<br />
transcended the usual class barriers seen<br />
across India. The depth of his support, and<br />
the fact he was the only politician to be cited<br />
by young scholars and students as their role<br />
model, was a cause of deep resentment for<br />
other political figures at the time, knowing<br />
that they would never have such a connection<br />
with the people of their country.<br />
Kalam described himself as a scientist,<br />
teacher, learner and writer, and his career<br />
path led him from very humble beginnings<br />
to become a member of the Indian space<br />
program. He was part of the team that built<br />
India’s satellite and missile programme, and<br />
successfully developed indigenous satellite<br />
launch vehicles as a contribution.<br />
Having left the Indian Space Research<br />
Organisation (ISRO) in 1982, he became<br />
the Director of the Defence Research and<br />
Development Laboratory, and under his<br />
supervision, India completed a number of<br />
short and medium-range ballistic missile<br />
tests. His commitment and flair for innovative<br />
thinking, as well as his demands for<br />
perfection and funding for the projects, led<br />
him to become one of the most influential and<br />
respected scientists in the country by the end<br />
of the decade, and having taken charge of the<br />
Indian nuclear tests at Pokhran in 1998, he<br />
suddenly found himself thrust into the realms<br />
of the media spotlight.<br />
National popularity ensued, helped by his<br />
distinctive silver hair, brushed long and styled<br />
in a centre parting. He looked like no other<br />
scientist anyone had ever seen, and enjoyed<br />
the level of celebrity status which would<br />
eventually see him become India’s president<br />
in 2002.<br />
After a successful first-term, Kalam declined<br />
the requests of India’s people to run for a<br />
second in 2007 aged 75, and instead revisited<br />
his first love – teaching and mentoring the<br />
young talent of the country. He travelled<br />
across India, lecturing students at various<br />
academic institutions, and fittingly, that was<br />
how he passed.<br />
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Celebrating Human Endeavour<br />
NASA trip inspires Emiratis to<br />
pursue a career in space<br />
Interviews conducted by Zeina Ahmed.<br />
As part of the UAE leadership’s vision to prepare the next<br />
generation of space science professionals, 200 Emirati<br />
students were taken on an inspiring scientific trip to NASA.<br />
Under the Unlimited Ambition Program,<br />
supported by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space<br />
Centre (MBRSC) and other UAE entities, 200<br />
promising Emirati students were given the<br />
opportunity to visit NASA to learn about space<br />
science. They were sent in five separate groups<br />
across the space of a year, with the final group<br />
to go to the space agency headquarters being<br />
21 female students from the Applied Technology<br />
High School in Abu Dhabi.<br />
This trip followed a previous successful venture<br />
A photo opportunity at NASA HQ<br />
as students paid a visit to the headquarters of<br />
both the technological and technical research<br />
institutes in South Korea, with the aim of<br />
developing future national working teams<br />
specialised in space science and advanced<br />
technology.<br />
Majarat talks to Rachida Nashef, Director of the<br />
Applied Technology and Technical High Schools,<br />
about the scientific objectives of the program.<br />
“A while ago, we signed an agreement with<br />
Emirati students work as a team to create a rover<br />
the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre to<br />
sponsor the space science studies of some of<br />
our students. The aim is to motivate students<br />
and build their self-confidence, to provide<br />
academic and training programs according to<br />
international standards and to encourage them<br />
to study space science according to the vision<br />
and strategy of the UAE.”<br />
She added that only the brightest students<br />
are selected to go on the scientific trips she<br />
organises. Those displaying commitment,<br />
interest and passion in the field of space science<br />
and technology, and the ability to be productive<br />
and creative were shortlisted to make the aweinspiring<br />
journey. She also pointed out that the<br />
program included detailed information on the<br />
latest materials, equipment, technologies and<br />
projects the scientists at NASA are working on.<br />
Director Nashef explained: “We always look<br />
for the appropriate training and learning<br />
opportunities for our students, so they may<br />
gain both knowledge and experience. Last<br />
year (2014), we organised a visit to advanced<br />
scientific, research and industrial institutions in<br />
South Korea, and we will shortly be organising a<br />
visit to Oxford University.” According to Nashef,<br />
this plan is in line with the UAE’s strategy to<br />
send the Hope probe mission to Mars by 2021,<br />
the year of innovation initiative, and the UAE’s<br />
efforts oriented towards building a knowledgebased<br />
economy. “We are always proactive in this<br />
domain,” she points out.<br />
Trip supervisor and maths teacher, Mona Al<br />
Sheikh, added that “the trip to NASA was a<br />
unique exploration opportunity for our female<br />
students who want to study engineering and<br />
science, as it allowed them to experience<br />
practical thinking.”<br />
During the trip, which lasted two weeks,<br />
the students had the opportunity to learn<br />
about the space equipment industry and the<br />
manufacturing process, which costs millions<br />
and often takes years.<br />
Mona Al Sheikh pointed out that since the<br />
announcement of the Hope probe mission,<br />
many curricula have been introduced relating<br />
to space science, engineering and advanced<br />
science, to build a specialised scientific national<br />
base of experts in this field. “The objective is to<br />
prepare Applied Technology and Technical High<br />
School graduates to study space science in<br />
Khalifa University,” she added.<br />
A group of students have shared with us their<br />
experiences during the visit to NASA, with one<br />
of them, Zainab Rashid, telling us: “It was a new<br />
and innovative idea, and in line with the UAE’s<br />
space science vision. We met many astronauts,<br />
and one of them accompanied us on our tours,<br />
and told us about the details of his journey and<br />
his experiences. I was motivated and wished I<br />
could complete my studies in space science, and<br />
go back to NASA to gain more knowledge and<br />
practical experience.”<br />
Fellow student, Moza Al Zaabi, said: “Here, in<br />
The rover works, teamwork works<br />
this scientifically impressive place, we learnt<br />
about Robonauts that are sent into space. We<br />
saw images of the Earth taken from outer space<br />
and we saw samples of the soil of some planets.<br />
While we were there, our group was proposed<br />
the idea of building a Robonaut to be sent into<br />
space. It took us the whole day to build the<br />
model.”<br />
Moza added: “We were 21 students, and we were<br />
divided into five groups, which created a kind<br />
of friendly competition between us. It was very<br />
inspiring and so interesting.”<br />
Moza is one of many students for whom this trip<br />
motivated and inspired the decision to study and<br />
pursue space science.<br />
Alia Al Shamsi, who also participated in the<br />
NASA visit, said: “During this trip, we saw the<br />
astronauts’ preparation process prior to their<br />
space mission journeys. We learned how they<br />
buy the equipment, and negotiate costs with<br />
the suppliers.” She added that, along with her<br />
colleagues, she learned a lot from the trip,<br />
such as the fact they train astronauts in a huge<br />
swimming pool months before finally travelling<br />
to space. Alia said that her dream is to “Return to<br />
NASA and continue her study of space science.”<br />
According to Sheikha Mohammed, this trip was<br />
a great opportunity for them as students, as it<br />
allowed them to visit such important sites that<br />
are not usually open to the public. They had<br />
the chance to access the ground station and<br />
learn how to communicate with astronauts on<br />
their space journeys. They also learned about<br />
the methods engineers use in manufacturing<br />
space suits and other astronauts’ equipment.<br />
Sheikha said that she’s “Eager to learn more<br />
about everything related to space, planets and<br />
galaxies.”<br />
Another inspired space enthusiast, Shamma<br />
Al Mujeini, said that she was “Astonished by<br />
the scientific progress achieved by NASA,” and<br />
that she “Never expected the facility to be<br />
so spacious. NASA includes advanced science<br />
facilities, rooms for video games, shopping<br />
stores and entertainment clubs. We moved from<br />
one location to another by train; and on one of<br />
the tours, we had the opportunity to see a space<br />
rocket that was still under manufacture.”<br />
Shamma talked about her dream of becoming<br />
the first Emirati to fly into space and said that<br />
she is very keen to study space science.<br />
Dr. Abdullatif Al Shamsi, Director General of<br />
the Institute of Applied Technology, stated that:<br />
“Taking the students’ delegation programs to<br />
NASA, home to brilliant scientists, engineers and<br />
innovators, offers a highly valuable experience to<br />
the students. These programs raise student<br />
interest in specialising in careers related to<br />
space science and technology, satellites,<br />
electronics, physics and astronomy, which is in<br />
line with the UAE’s strategic plan to enter the<br />
space field.”<br />
Dr. Al Shamsi explained that “The establishment<br />
of the UAE Space Agency and Mohammed bin<br />
Rashid Space Centre, as well as the investment<br />
in the satellite sector, plus the launch of the<br />
“Hope” probe mission to Mars, will lead to a<br />
technological and technical development that<br />
will constitute a new phase in the advancement<br />
of the UAE in a vital field. This will contribute<br />
to the development of advanced scientific<br />
research, aerospace industries and associated<br />
technologies, thus directing the education to<br />
the adoption of a new sector that enhances<br />
knowledge economy.”<br />
After their trip to NASA in Houston, some of the<br />
students have already joined Khalifa University<br />
to study space science, while others joined<br />
international universities to study this significant<br />
major.<br />
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The 10 most iconic images<br />
from human space<br />
endeavour<br />
Man has been travelling to and from space for 56 years now,<br />
and in that time, we have seen images that portray triumph,<br />
potential, tragedy, challenges, achievements and the sheer<br />
scale of whatever is out there. Let’s celebrate human<br />
endeavour with a look at 10 of the most iconic images from<br />
the space story so far.<br />
Dubai from above<br />
The instantly recognisable Dubai shoreline, captured from DubaiSat-2, currently in orbit<br />
above the Earth. The detail within this image is not only a demonstration of the capability of<br />
the Emirati-built satellite, but serves as a reminder of the transformation witnessed in Dubai<br />
itself, and some of the most extraordinary construction projects ever undertaken by man. You<br />
can see the man-made perfection of the Palm Jumeirah as its stretches out into the sea.<br />
Silhouette in space<br />
This beautiful image exhibits a unique<br />
view of the Space Shuttle Endeavour,<br />
apparently in limbo between the<br />
Earth’s atmosphere and space, and<br />
with a beautiful sunset occurring<br />
on the horizon. So many different<br />
elements had to come together at this<br />
precise moment to provide a picture<br />
that encapsulates much of what man<br />
has thus far achieved in space.<br />
The Earth<br />
This wasn’t the first picture of the Earth taken by a human from outer space, but it was the<br />
first to really catch the essence of how isolated we are. It seems strange now to think that just<br />
55 years ago, humans really had no idea what the world looked like from above. Of course,<br />
we eventually worked out we lived on a round planet, not a flat one, but the stunning visual<br />
feast our beautiful planet serves up could never have been realised until 1965, although this<br />
image was taken aboard Apollo 17 in 1972, and was the first to really capture the imagination<br />
of the entire human race.<br />
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Challenger 73<br />
An image that serves as a constant reminder of the perils of<br />
space exploration, and the challenges that must constantly<br />
be overcome. This launch of NASA’s Challenger Space Shuttle<br />
was watched around the world by millions, and was to be its<br />
10th mission. In previous missions it had carried the first US<br />
woman to space, and was used in 85% of all NASA space flights<br />
between 1983 and 1985. Sadly, just 73 seconds into its 10th<br />
mission, the Shuttle exploded killing all seven crew members.<br />
A tragic event that led to the grounding of all US space flights<br />
for over two and a half years.<br />
Man on the moon<br />
This iconic picture of Buzz Aldrin was taken<br />
by Neil Armstrong, as the pair took their<br />
first steps on the Moon. This image has<br />
been replicated and published millions of<br />
times the world over, and is quite simply<br />
one of those instantly recognisable pictures<br />
whose legacy will be everlasting. Legendary<br />
American pop-artist, Andy Warhol, put his<br />
inimitable imprint onto this picture to further<br />
propel it to the status it now enjoys.<br />
The white sun<br />
Viewing the sun from space takes on an air<br />
of surrealism. When in view on Earth, the<br />
sun is usually surrounded by beautiful blue<br />
skies. In space, it’s a huge light engulfed by a<br />
pitch-black void. The emptiness of space has<br />
never been more poignantly captured than<br />
in this photo taken from the International<br />
Space Station.<br />
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Alone in space<br />
This iconic image captures NASA Astronaut<br />
Bruce McCandles as he makes the first ever<br />
untethered space walk. Using just a jet pack<br />
to navigate his way in space, McCandles<br />
looks very isolated, and is displaying the kind<br />
of bravery and courage associated with all<br />
those who have helped push the human race<br />
to new frontiers in outer space.<br />
Celebrating Human Endeavour<br />
India launches<br />
the SLV-3<br />
It was in July 1980 that India became<br />
the sixth nation to become “spacefaring”.<br />
This successful launch project<br />
paved the way for the Indian Space<br />
Research Organisation (ISRO) to<br />
launch countless satellites throughout<br />
the last 35 years, including the Mars<br />
Orbiter Mission (MOM), which is<br />
currently in orbit around the Red<br />
Planet. With MOM, India became the<br />
first country to succeed with a mission<br />
to Mars at the first attempt. Despite<br />
their numerous satellite launches,<br />
ISRO has never launched a human<br />
into space, although plans are being<br />
made for a potential human mission<br />
in 2017.<br />
First woman in space<br />
Valentina Tereshkova was the first female<br />
to go to space. The Russian cosmonaut<br />
made the journey in 1963, aged just 27. It<br />
marked another huge victory for the former<br />
Soviet Union in their on-going space contest<br />
with America. The US didn’t send a woman<br />
out of the atmosphere until 1983, and had<br />
previously been beaten by a month in their<br />
race with the Russians to send a man up to<br />
space for the very first time. Perhaps more<br />
significant than the intercontinental rivalry<br />
provoked by the Cold War, was the hope that<br />
Valentina gave to women, not just in Russia,<br />
but everywhere. That a woman in the 1960’s<br />
was able to make an impact on such a maledominated<br />
sector, was quite remarkable at<br />
that time.<br />
The Eastern Seaboard by night<br />
This image of the East Coast of America at night was captured by a crewmember aboard the<br />
International Space Station in 2012. The photo perfectly illustrates the modern urbanisation<br />
of the USA, with New York and Manhatten (bottom right), Philadelphia (left of New York), and<br />
Pittsburgh (central) all clearly visible, along with the major highways that link them. Further<br />
north is Washington DC and Maryland. Views like this allow Astronauts to feel like they are not<br />
so very far from home, and that back on Earth everything is just as it should be.<br />
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Celebrating Human Endeavour<br />
of luck for the training and the mission.<br />
Prince Sultan had great responsibility on his<br />
shoulders, carrying the weight of expectation<br />
and the global reputation of the Arab states<br />
with him through the intense training period.<br />
The trip would potentially change the way<br />
the western world perceived the Arab world<br />
forever. The Arab world had always had<br />
to import the latest technology from the<br />
western world, but Prince Sultan’s journey<br />
was something that people would always<br />
be able to marvel at and call their own, and<br />
the coverage would hopefully inspire a new<br />
generation to embark upon careers in the<br />
fields of science and technology, reducing<br />
dependence on the west for modern<br />
conveniences, and establishing a strong<br />
presence for the sector in a number of states<br />
throughout the Middle East. This was one of<br />
the core objectives in the long run.<br />
Prince Sultan getting ready for the most important journey of his life<br />
The story of the first Arab<br />
in space<br />
On the 17th June 1985, Prince Sultan bin Salman of Saudi Arabia<br />
blasted off from the Kennedy Space Centre aboard the Space<br />
Shuttle Discovery with a team of international crewmembers, on<br />
a mission that would forever transform the Arab world.<br />
It was 1976, and the Arab League had<br />
identified the need to bring the region together<br />
by finding a new, reliable means of interstate<br />
communication. The decision was made to<br />
launch a satellite that would link the entire 14<br />
million square kilometre Arab world, and it<br />
was the Arab Telecommunication Union, the<br />
Arab Organisation for Education, Science and<br />
Culture, and the Arab States Broadcasting<br />
Union that worked in collaboration under the<br />
umbrella of the Arab League to implement a<br />
satellite network that would bring the Arab<br />
world into a new era. With the idea now<br />
firmly in place, it was decided to establish an<br />
institution for satellite communications to be<br />
based in Riyadh, named Arabsat.<br />
Arabsat began work right away, and<br />
commissioned a French company, Aérospatiale,<br />
to work on Arabsat-1a, destined to be the<br />
first Arab satellite placed into orbit. The<br />
satellite was successfully launched from a<br />
launchpad in Europe, however with the eyes<br />
of the Arab world upon it, the satellite failed<br />
to open correctly when placed into orbit due<br />
to a malfunction, and although after several<br />
failed attempts it was eventually opened,<br />
it was unable to function at the level they<br />
hoped for initially.<br />
The Arab League were disappointed, but<br />
persevered with their plan and, instead of<br />
losing hope, they decided to try for a second<br />
time. This time however, they planned to<br />
send an Arab astronaut or payload specialist<br />
to oversee the mission. It had also been<br />
a long-term ambition of the Arab League<br />
to launch a satellite through NASA, and a<br />
contract was drawn up and signed, which<br />
would see an Arab astronaut accompany the<br />
second satellite, Arabsat-1b into outer space<br />
with the American space agency.<br />
The idea of NASA ever allowing a non-<br />
American to fly was completely alien at<br />
that time, but NASA broke with tradition as<br />
they saw the amazing enthusiasm the Arab<br />
world had for the space program and space<br />
exploration, and so a payload specialist role<br />
The NASA team were multi-national, the first time this was the case<br />
was opened up for an Arab to take their<br />
place on the Space Shuttle Discovery flight<br />
arranged for the 17th June, 1985.<br />
The journey towards becoming a NASA<br />
astronaut is one of the most demanding<br />
anyone could ever face, both mentally and<br />
physically, and many candidates barely make<br />
it through the initial week of the testing<br />
period. So as a young Prince Sultan took his<br />
place among the 19 other Arab hopefuls,<br />
he wasn’t even contemplating the idea that<br />
he might succeed in the training and have<br />
a chance of playing a role in the mission, he<br />
was just delighted to have been able to apply,<br />
having learnt of the opportunity only weeks<br />
before the testing of the applicants was due<br />
to begin.<br />
During testing, each applicant was scrutinised<br />
and put through their paces severely in a<br />
search for the extra aptitude required to<br />
successfully partake in a space mission.<br />
When it comes to space missions and NASA<br />
protocol, it would be extremely naïve to think<br />
that one’s social standing would have any<br />
impact upon whether they would be allowed<br />
to go into space, so for Prince Sultan there<br />
was never a question that he may be allowed<br />
to go because of who he was. The process<br />
of selection is based on a list of very specific<br />
criteria related to skillset and competence,<br />
and although the Prince felt drained after the<br />
testing, he thought he had done a good job.<br />
Arab ambassador<br />
The news came though that the Prince<br />
had been selected for the mission, and his<br />
original tiredness made way for excitement,<br />
but there was still many obstacles in his<br />
way before he would be looking down upon<br />
the Earth from the atmosphere, not least<br />
the requirement to gain approval from King<br />
Fahd. No member of any royal family had<br />
ever flown a space mission before, and<br />
the King was certainly staking a lot on the<br />
27-year old Prince being the ambassador for<br />
the whole Arab World, with the eyes of the<br />
planet upon him. He wanted to make sure<br />
he was up to the job, but the Prince showed<br />
his commitment and his enthusiasm,<br />
and with some words of reassurance and<br />
encouragement from his father, the current<br />
ruler King Salman, King Fahd gave his<br />
blessing and wished the Prince the very best<br />
When the Prince arrived at Houston, Texas for<br />
his condensed 10-week training period, he<br />
nearly wasn’t allowed into the high-security<br />
training complex. Turning up wearing jeans<br />
and a t-shirt, the security guards refused to<br />
believe that the Prince was actually who he<br />
said he was. They were of course expecting<br />
him at the Lyndon B Johnson Space Centre<br />
that day, but when the arrival of such a<br />
high profile member of a royal family is<br />
anticipated, so too is an entourage, perhaps<br />
a fleet of limousines, and a lot of expensive<br />
luggage. This really wasn’t the Prince’s style<br />
though, and after finally negotiating his way<br />
in with the help of his passport, he was able<br />
to begin his intensive course.<br />
There was one other quite significant<br />
obstacle in his way, and that was the fact<br />
that in the summer months in Houston,<br />
temperatures and humidity soar to a level<br />
similar to that of the Middle East, and the<br />
daylight hours run from around 5am to<br />
8:30pm. This wouldn’t usually be an issue,<br />
but the holy month of Ramadan fell in the<br />
middle of the training program, so the long<br />
days and intense physical exertion made<br />
fasting a real challenge, but even though<br />
scholars are unanimously agreed that a<br />
traveller is permitted to refrain from fasting,<br />
the Prince was adamant that he would not<br />
only fast, but also complete a year’s worth of<br />
training in a two-month period. And he did.<br />
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MOTIVATE<br />
Thought Provoking Notions<br />
When the launch day came around, the<br />
sense of nervousness and excitement across<br />
the Arab world was palpable. In the mideighties,<br />
the global interest in space missions<br />
was at an all-time high, so the eyes of the<br />
entire world were fixed on the Space Shuttle<br />
Discovery on the 17th June 1985. What made<br />
this particular mission so interesting on a<br />
purely human level was that it was a multinational<br />
mission, the first time this had really<br />
been done by NASA. The Shuttle contained<br />
predominantly Americans, but also one<br />
payload specialist of French descent, and<br />
a mission specialist who originated from<br />
China, despite being raised in Oklahoma<br />
USA, in addition to Prince Sultan.<br />
Into orbit<br />
The main mission of the flight was to place<br />
Arabsat-1b into orbit, and the responsibility<br />
in the eyes of the watching Arab world was<br />
firmly in the hands of Prince Sultan. As<br />
the launch process began, the tension was<br />
evident on the faces of the watching public<br />
and the Prince’s family, who had made the<br />
trip to the Kennedy Space Centre, Florida, to<br />
witness their young Prince leave the Earth.<br />
The launch was a success, and work began in<br />
earnest at making the Space Shuttle a home<br />
for the next seven days.<br />
The satellite was placed into orbit, and a<br />
day later it was time to test its operational<br />
capabilities. The method for testing was<br />
The Prince making notes in zero-gravity<br />
perhaps the highest profile method of all.<br />
On television, in a live satellite link up with<br />
the King, and with the whole Arab world<br />
watching. If they could converse, the satellite<br />
would be officially operational. The call took<br />
place, and the Prince and King spoke for five<br />
minutes, with the King commending Sultan<br />
for his achievements and his representation<br />
of the Arab world.<br />
As a result of the mission, not only did the<br />
Arab world now have instant communication<br />
connectivity to each other via telephone, but<br />
also people were now far more aware of and<br />
interested in space science, particularly the<br />
young. This was one of the goals of Prince<br />
Sultan’s mission, and since the mission he<br />
has constantly toured schools to talk to<br />
and inspire youngsters as a role model for<br />
millions.<br />
His main job started when he landed safely<br />
back on earth. He was now a symbol of the<br />
Arab world, and he showed the Arab children<br />
that here is nothing you can’t accomplish.<br />
The mission also acted as a catalyst for<br />
the Arab World to be able to enter into<br />
agreements and collaborate with some<br />
of the most distinguished global scientific<br />
organisations, which suddenly realised that<br />
the Arab world too has brilliant minds and<br />
capable scientists.<br />
The Arab people felt their region had now<br />
realised a high level of scientific achievement,<br />
and they celebrated together. This was not<br />
just a Saudi mission; this was an Arab<br />
mission, with the message that we must<br />
take challenges, and embark upon new<br />
experiences, a message that has remained<br />
to this day, and is exhibited by the UAE<br />
and the ambition with which MBRSC has<br />
displayed by moving onto new frontiers with<br />
the Hope Probe to Mars.<br />
“I remember watching the Apollo 11<br />
moon landing aged just 13 in Saudi<br />
Arabia. It was definitely a very exciting<br />
moment for myself as a young boy<br />
and my friends. We were talking about<br />
the momentous event for whole week<br />
afterwards. As young people we began<br />
to dream. I never thought that I would<br />
one day be an astronaut that travelled<br />
into space, and it was an honour. A<br />
larger honour for me was being able to<br />
meet the astronauts, cosmonauts and<br />
the flyers that have spent their lifetime<br />
learning, participating in and observing<br />
the space program.<br />
“I can say with full confidence that<br />
the space program still energises and<br />
inspires real people. In my case, in 1985<br />
I remember, when our team of scientists<br />
and myself came back to Saudi, the<br />
faces on the young people of Saudi<br />
and the pride they felt by seeing their<br />
own people participating in the space<br />
program. Space has always been a very<br />
real attraction for young people aspiring<br />
to do more with their lives, and as I live<br />
in Saudi and indeed travel the world<br />
giving lectures, I still feel the welcoming<br />
arms of young people everywhere who<br />
get excited by talking about space, and<br />
as I go around and lecture and speak<br />
about space programs, I feel that the<br />
space program and the interest is more<br />
powerful than ever before.”<br />
Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al<br />
Saud – the first Arab in space, the first<br />
Muslim in space, and the first member of<br />
royalty in space.<br />
DHL – The secret to<br />
remaining the best<br />
Majarat speaks to Frank-Uwe Ungerer, DHL Express UAE<br />
Country Manager, about how his company has managed<br />
to win the GPTW Institute’s award as the best company<br />
to work for in the UAE for the second year in a row.<br />
A big part of the vision of the leadership of<br />
Dubai is to try to emphasise the importance<br />
of employees to success, whether the<br />
entity is private or public. The Government<br />
continues to work hard to instil the idea<br />
that incentives, the working environment and<br />
general conditions of employment are directly<br />
correlated to prosperity in business, a notion<br />
that DHL can bear testament to.<br />
The latest study conducted by the global<br />
workplace consultant and research company,<br />
Great Place To Work (GPTW) Institute has<br />
named DHL as the best company to work<br />
for in the UAE for the second year in a row.<br />
The GPTW award and ranking system is an<br />
established accolade in Europe, the Middle<br />
East, and Asia, and is certainly a sought-after<br />
prize, with DHL beating off competition from<br />
Microsoft, Ericsson, FedEx, Estee Lauder and<br />
the Marriott Group to name but a few.<br />
We conduct an in-depth<br />
training needs analysis<br />
to identify individual<br />
and team training<br />
requirements which are<br />
made available to all<br />
employees<br />
One of the KPI’s of the award is based<br />
on staff feedback through questionnaires.<br />
These questionnaires relate to employee<br />
trust, company credibility, communication,<br />
respect, fairness and freedom of expression,<br />
and are world-renowned, annually revised<br />
forms, which are seen as the gold standard<br />
Frank-Uwe Ungerer, DHL Express UAE Country Manager<br />
measure of defining a great workplace. The<br />
secondary aspect to the grading is based<br />
on a moderator audit and assessment of<br />
the employer and the culture within the<br />
workplace.<br />
Country Manager, Frank-Uwe Ungerer, offers<br />
us an insight into how DHL won the award<br />
for the second year running, and how the<br />
company continues to derive positive results<br />
and growth through its staff training, and the<br />
emphasis it places on employee satisfaction.<br />
Majarat: How important are the staff to what<br />
DHL is trying to achieve in the UAE?<br />
FUU: “In a service industry like ours, our<br />
employees ARE the key differentiator in being<br />
able to deliver on our customer promise in<br />
the UAE and across the 220 countries we<br />
operate in. This is reflected in our FOCUS<br />
strategy, which has four pillars – the first of<br />
which is “Motivated People”. We believe that<br />
if we have engaged and motivated employees<br />
they will deliver outstanding service which<br />
builds customer loyalty and ultimately allows<br />
us to be more profitable and successful as<br />
a business. Our employees are crucial to<br />
our success and maintaining our service<br />
leadership in the market.”<br />
ISSUE 02 ISSUE 02
MOTIVATE<br />
Thought Provoking Notions<br />
42 43<br />
MOTIVATE<br />
Thought Provoking Notions<br />
DHL is the number one logistics company in the world<br />
The working environment has a big impact upon productivity<br />
Majarat: What kind of training and incentives<br />
do staff receive?<br />
FUU: “DHL has a global ‘Certified International<br />
Specialists’ training and development<br />
platform which provides all of our 100,000+<br />
staff training on the express logistics industry,<br />
functional expertise and the DHL attributes.<br />
This ensures a consistent approach and<br />
develops our employees not just in their<br />
role but improves their career growth<br />
opportunities. The training covers all levels<br />
in the business and even has a Certified<br />
International Manager and Supervisor<br />
program to build leadership expertise. This<br />
is also a commitment to our customers and<br />
ensures that no matter where you are in the<br />
world, you would still receive the same level<br />
of consistent service quality.<br />
“In addition to the CIS program, we conduct an<br />
in-depth training needs analysis to identify<br />
individual and team training requirements<br />
which are made available to employees through<br />
classroom training, blended learning and<br />
e-learning, and cover a range of soft skills and<br />
competency development requirements.”<br />
Our communication<br />
is extremely open, and<br />
senior management<br />
take feedback<br />
extremely seriously<br />
Majarat: What is the workplace culture at<br />
DHL in the UAE, and was it instilled by the<br />
international DHL brand, or is the way you<br />
run the business here exclusive to the UAE?<br />
FUU: “The workplace culture at DHL is a<br />
work hard, play hard culture. We have a very<br />
strong global DHL culture but recognise the<br />
differences of each of the regions that we<br />
operate in and we tweak it where necessary<br />
to make sure that we are creating the best<br />
work environment for our employees.<br />
“The UAE is unique in several ways and we<br />
recognise this. We capitalise on our diversity<br />
and create a strong family atmosphere to<br />
provide a support system since people are<br />
away from home. Some of the other things<br />
that help define our culture include an open<br />
door policy to make sure that our employees<br />
can always voice their hopes and concerns<br />
without fear.<br />
“Our communication is extremely open,<br />
and senior management take feedback<br />
extremely seriously, acting upon it where<br />
necessary. This is also supported by our<br />
annual Employee Opinion Survey, which<br />
measures our employee engagement levels<br />
every year, covering several touch points. Our<br />
senior management team spend two thirds<br />
of their time out in the field with our front line<br />
employees to make sure they are engaged<br />
and motivated.<br />
“We have transparency in all of our policies.<br />
Recognition and having fun are very important<br />
and encouraged by all managers. And finally,<br />
we celebrate our successes and act on our<br />
areas for improvement together as one.”<br />
Majarat: What do you think are the three most<br />
important attributes needed from employees<br />
to bring success for a company?<br />
FUU: “They need to be engaged and motivated<br />
in a sense whereby every day is their best day<br />
at work. This will result in them delivering<br />
great service quality for our customers<br />
and ultimately leading to loyal customers.<br />
Achieving this not only makes us profitable,<br />
but a great place to work as well. This is the<br />
cycle and culture that we are promoting in<br />
DHL. The key attributes that help employees<br />
deliver this are speed, passion, a “can do”<br />
and “right first time” mentality, all supported<br />
by an overall value of respect.”<br />
Majarat: How important would you say the<br />
working environment is in inspiring and<br />
motivating staff?<br />
FUU: “The working environment does play a<br />
crucial role in the enthusiasm and happiness<br />
of employees. Last year we moved to our new<br />
state-of-the art country office and ground<br />
operations centre in Meydan, and from its<br />
initial stages of design we have made sure<br />
that the building has a lot of windows and<br />
natural light flowing into the office and the<br />
key basics such as covered car parks, good<br />
c/c and ventilation in the warehouses and<br />
good workstations.<br />
You need to make sure<br />
your people are happy,<br />
respected and understand<br />
the value of their work to<br />
the business. This builds<br />
engagement and will<br />
make people want to work<br />
with the company.<br />
“We also made sure we included the<br />
opinions of our employees in terms of their<br />
expectations and elements they would like<br />
to have in the building, such as a quiet room,<br />
billiards, showers, a PlayStation and even a<br />
fully equipped fitness centre!”<br />
Majarat: What advice would you give to a<br />
company looking to get more out of their<br />
employees?<br />
FUU: “You need to make sure your people are<br />
happy, respected and understand the value<br />
of their work to the business. This builds<br />
engagement and will make people want<br />
to work with the company. Motivation and<br />
engagement are crucial for any successful<br />
business. Include your people in community<br />
initiatives, drive a culture of coaching and<br />
developing your employees and most<br />
importantly, respect and recognise the great<br />
work they deliver. This will ultimately boost<br />
morale and keep them motivated.”<br />
Majarat: Why do you think your staff have<br />
voted you as the best company to work for in<br />
the UAE for two years in a row?<br />
FUU: “I think because we try to do all the<br />
various initiatives I mentioned earlier. We not<br />
only do it consistently but also continue to build<br />
and improve on it every year. Our employees<br />
can feel the difference and appreciate all that<br />
is being done for them. There is no magic<br />
wand and it’s a continuous focus on listening<br />
and making the right changes.”<br />
For more information on DHL Logistics in the<br />
UAE, visit www.dhl.ae<br />
ISSUE 02 ISSUE 02
The greatest spacecraft of all time<br />
Majarat takes you on a journey through space history, as we look at the<br />
most iconic, most technologically advanced spacecraft ever built on<br />
Earth. Each has made an invaluable contribution to the advancement of<br />
our knowledge of outer space, but which is the greatest?<br />
Apollo 11<br />
As the first spacecraft to take man to the moon, Apollo 11 simply has to be the greatest spacecraft of all time. The<br />
moon landing is still to this day the most seminal space accomplishment, and the three crew members of Apollo 11<br />
(Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins) are household names the world over. Launched in 1969, Apollo 11<br />
invigorated and inspired the human race, and was undoubtedly responsible for most of the groundbreaking scientists<br />
and engineers that have contributed so much to the advancement of the industry, opting to pursue a career in space<br />
in the first place. Apollo 11 effectively ended the space race with Russia, with the Russians having to concede defeat<br />
to a job well done. Just three hours before the launch of Apollo 11,<br />
and unmanned Russian spacecraft called Lunar 15 had entered into<br />
an orbit of the moon as the Russians tried to successfully land it,<br />
take rock samples and bring them back to Earth before the American<br />
astronauts could do the same. Sadly for them, a malfunction occurred<br />
which saw Lunar 15 hurtle into the moon and destroy itself, leaving<br />
the pathway clear for the victorious Americans, and the most famous<br />
words ever spoken: “One small step for (a) man, one giant leap for<br />
mankind.”<br />
New Horizons<br />
Apollo 11 Stats:<br />
Launch Date: 16th July 1969<br />
Cost: $7.95 billion<br />
Mission Duration: 8 days<br />
Space Agency: NASA<br />
Maximum Distance from Earth: 239,070 miles<br />
New Horizons takes its place inside our list as it has sparked such massive interest in space travel and the<br />
possibilities human endeavour represents. Having just completed a flypast of Pluto, the farthest planetary<br />
body in our Solar System, and sent back the most detailed images of<br />
the dwarf planet yet, New Horizons has received massive international<br />
exposure for all it has thus far achieved. But it’s not done yet. It is also<br />
the highest velocity spacecraft ever built, travelling at a staggering<br />
36,000 miles per hour, so as it now heads towards the Kepler Belt, it<br />
could end up making it to a planet in another Solar System long before<br />
any other man-made apparatus.<br />
International Space Station<br />
The International Space Station (ISS) is certainly one of the most important spacecraft of all time, and probably the most impressive<br />
piece of engineering ever witnessed. As a living facility and research laboratory orbiting the Earth, the ISS has been home to over<br />
200 astronauts and cosmonauts, with research and discoveries undertaken on the space station likely to play an integral role in the<br />
development of future human space endeavour, including the potential of taking humans to Mars. The laboratory has made huge<br />
breakthroughs in the fields of physics, biology meteorology and astronomy, and has also given astronauts a base from where to<br />
communicate live and directly with the general public via social media platforms such as Twitter, posting photos and performing<br />
live webcasts while fielding questions and carrying out a number<br />
of interesting requests from the thousands who follow their every<br />
move. With 15 different nationalities having visited the space station, it<br />
represents the first and most significant truly global collaboration on<br />
a space project, testament to the achievements that are possible when<br />
great minds from all nations come together to work as one.<br />
Voyager 1<br />
Voyager 1 is the<br />
only spacecraft to<br />
have travelled into<br />
interstellar space.<br />
Launched in 1977,<br />
with a lot of technical<br />
equipment that became<br />
very quickly out-dated,<br />
the most remarkable<br />
thing about the<br />
Voyager 1 is that it is<br />
still fully functioning,<br />
and that it left our Solar System in September 2014, 37 years<br />
after its launch. The fact that it is still able to communicate<br />
with Earth is a testament to the genius of the engineers that<br />
worked on it, with the limited technology available at the<br />
time. Where Voyager 1 will end up, nobody knows, but as it<br />
traverses the Kepler belt on its way to the next Solar System,<br />
it leaves us with a legacy of being the spacecraft that has<br />
taken the most extraordinary journey, and been responsible<br />
for one of the most exciting space developments ever.<br />
45<br />
International Space Station Stats:<br />
Launch Date: 20th November 1998<br />
Cost: $150 billion<br />
Mission Duration: 16 years<br />
Space Agency: ESA, CSA, JAXA, NASA & Roscosmos<br />
Maximum Distance from Earth: 262 miles<br />
Viking 1<br />
Viking 1 was the<br />
first spacecraft to<br />
land on Mars, and<br />
was the first to<br />
send back colour<br />
images of the Red<br />
Planet. Launched<br />
in 1975, and<br />
equipped with<br />
both an orbiter<br />
and a lander component, Viking 1’s legacy stretches<br />
to the modern day, and the UAE Hope probe mission to<br />
Mars that the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre has<br />
embarked upon. The images were transmitted across<br />
the world on every major television network, giving the<br />
human race its first clear view of the Martian surface,<br />
a surface and landscape that was previously reserved<br />
only for the imagination. The Viking 1 lander continued<br />
to send data and photographs of the surface, while<br />
taking soil samples too, up until a malfunction occurred<br />
six years later.<br />
New Horizons Stats:<br />
Launch Date: 19th January 2006<br />
Cost: $650 million<br />
Mission Duration: 9 years<br />
Space Agency: NASA<br />
Maximum Distance from Earth: 2.8 billion miles<br />
Voyager 1 Stats:<br />
Launch Date: 5th September 1977<br />
Cost: $250 million<br />
Mission Duration: 37 years<br />
Space Agency: NASA<br />
Maximum Distance from Earth: 12 billion miles<br />
Viking 1 Stats:<br />
Launch Date: 20th August 1975<br />
Cost: $1 billion<br />
Mission Duration: 1,824 days<br />
Space Agency: NASA<br />
Maximum Distance from Earth: 33.9 million miles<br />
ISSUE 02 ISSUE 02
46 47<br />
Hubble Space Telescope<br />
Space Shuttle Discovery<br />
Pioneer 10<br />
The Hubble Telescope has provided the<br />
most detailed images of far off stars<br />
and galaxies we have ever laid eyes<br />
on. The telescope raised the profile<br />
of space in a way no other spacecraft<br />
could, by providing stunning clarity to<br />
images of the universe, and allowing the<br />
human race to start to comprehend the<br />
size, the splendour, the instability and<br />
the beauty of the environment we find<br />
ourselves flying through at 67,000 miles<br />
per hour. The Hubble Telescope was only<br />
predicted to last 15 years in its orbit,<br />
and yet a quarter of a century later it<br />
continues to send back groundbreaking<br />
images, and shows no sign of slowing<br />
down. A triumph for human engineering,<br />
and human endeavour, the Hubble<br />
Telescope’s most lasting legacy in terms of discovery was the accuracy with which it was able to demonstrate the<br />
formation and expansion of the universe with unwavering accuracy.<br />
Hubble Space Telescope Stats:<br />
Launch Date: 24th April 1990<br />
Cost: $2.5 billion<br />
Mission Duration: 24.5 years<br />
Space Agency: ESA, STScl & NASA<br />
Maximum Distance from Earth: 355 miles<br />
Galileo<br />
Galileo was the first spacecraft to orbit Jupiter, the largest<br />
planet in our Solar System. The unmanned NASA probe was<br />
launched in October 1989, with the mission of studying Jupiter<br />
and some of its 63 moons. In 1995, after six years, Galileo<br />
reached its subject and began its analysis of the atmosphere of<br />
the gas-covered planet. One of the most significant discoveries<br />
Galileo uncovered came not on Jupiter, but on one of its moons<br />
– Europa. The evidence gathered by Galileo strongly points<br />
towards water being present underneath the thick sheet of ice<br />
enveloping the surface of Europa, as well as the presence of<br />
minerals seemingly not unlike clay. To this day, the discovery<br />
remains one of the most fascinating examples of organic<br />
material we have ever found outside of the Earth. In 2003, the<br />
mission ended as NASA sent Galileo plummeting into the atmosphere of Jupiter at a speed of 108,000 miles per hour.<br />
Galileo Stats:<br />
Launch Date: 18th October 1989<br />
Cost: $1.4 billion<br />
Mission Duration: 7.7 years<br />
Space Agency: NASA<br />
Maximum Distance from Earth: 490 million miles<br />
The iconic Space Shuttle Discovery<br />
captured the imagination of a<br />
whole new generation of space<br />
enthusiasts, as its spectacular and<br />
numerous launches coincided with<br />
a higher definition of television<br />
coverage, making the impact and<br />
sheer magnitude of a space launch<br />
really become apparent in homes<br />
across the world. It has logged more<br />
flying time than any other spacecraft<br />
in history, and successfully completed 39 missions during its 28-year long<br />
career. Discovery logged more than 148 million flight miles, and has a portfolio<br />
brimming with a selection of the most remarkable space exploits ever seen.<br />
These include the launch of the Hubble Telescope and the Ulysses space probe,<br />
as well as being the spacecraft that carried the first Arab into space. As a<br />
trusted and reliable spacecraft, the Space Shuttle Discovery clearly stands head<br />
and shoulders above the rest of its predecessors, and most of those that have<br />
been commissioned since. Space Shuttle Discovery was finally retired in March<br />
2011, and is now on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Centre in Virginia.<br />
Space Shuttle Discovery Stats:<br />
Launch Date: 30th August 1984<br />
Cost: $1.5 billion<br />
Mission Duration: 27 years<br />
Space Agency: NASA<br />
Maximum Distance from Earth: 330 miles<br />
Vostok 1<br />
The Vostok 1 took Yuri Gagarin into space<br />
in 1961, making him the first man in space.<br />
Still to this day this is one of the most<br />
spectacular achievements by the human<br />
race, and was made all the sweeter for<br />
the Russians as they beat the US by three<br />
weeks. Changing the course of history, and<br />
showing the world that anything is possible,<br />
the Soviet-built Vostok 1 deserves recognition for everything it accomplished<br />
in its 1 hour 48 minute mission. Not only did Gagarin become the first man<br />
to go into an orbit of the Earth, he also made it safely back to the ground,<br />
although he did end up over 5,000 miles away from home as he crash-landed<br />
in Angola. The remains of the spacecraft are on display at the RKK Energiya<br />
museum just outside Moscow.<br />
Vostok 1 Stats:<br />
Launch Date: 12th April 1961<br />
Cost: $4 million<br />
Mission Duration: 1 hour 48 minutes<br />
Space Agency: Soviet space program<br />
Maximum Distance from Earth: 203 miles<br />
Pioneer became the first<br />
spacecraft to enter the asteroid<br />
belt on its way to Jupiter, and<br />
represented NASA’s first attempt<br />
at navigating a probe through the<br />
precarious rock belt, something it<br />
did successfully. This opened up<br />
the floodgates for the American<br />
space agency to send numerous<br />
missions to the farther reaches<br />
of our Solar System. Launched in<br />
1972, Pioneer 10 gave us our first<br />
detailed images of Jupiter, and<br />
also allowed us to discover that<br />
the planet radiates more heat<br />
than it receives from the Sun.<br />
After sending back more than<br />
500 images of Jupiter, Pioneer 10<br />
continued into the outer reaches<br />
of space, and although the<br />
mission was officially ceased in<br />
1997, Pioneer 10 kept in contact<br />
up until the signal was lost in<br />
2003. The spacecraft is now in<br />
deep space, approaching Proximi<br />
Centauri, the nearest star to our<br />
Solar System.<br />
Pioneer 10 Stats:<br />
Launch Date: 3rd March 1972<br />
Cost: $150 million<br />
Mission Duration: 30.9 years<br />
Space Agency: NASA<br />
Maximum Distance from Earth:<br />
7.46 billion miles<br />
ISSUE 02 ISSUE 02
INTERMISSION<br />
Rest, Refresh & Refuel<br />
48 49 INTERMISSION<br />
Rest, Refresh & Refuel<br />
Mars One – A new civilisation on<br />
Mars in under 15 years?<br />
Majarat speaks to the Mars One foundation’s CEO, Bas Lansdorp,<br />
about his hopes for putting humans on Mars, and exactly what one<br />
would do on the Red Planet if they went there.<br />
How the Mars colony might look on the Red Planet<br />
Mars One is an organisation with big ideas.<br />
The founders aim to begin a colony on Mars in<br />
the year 2026, with an unmanned preparation<br />
launch scheduled for 2020, using the same<br />
launch window as the UAE’s very own Hope<br />
Mars Probe.<br />
After the initial team of four humans have<br />
landed on the Red Planet, the Mars One<br />
initiative will aim to send another group<br />
every 26 months thereafter, creating a new<br />
civilisation 225,300,000km from home.<br />
There are those that foresee a number of<br />
difficulties for the ambitious project, not least<br />
being able to secure the necessary funding<br />
and acquiring the technology in time for a<br />
2026 human launch to Mars, but CEO and<br />
co-founder, Bas Lansdorp is a man with big<br />
dreams and big ambitions.<br />
“When I saw images of the surface of Mars<br />
as a student back in 1997, it made me want<br />
to go there myself,” Lansdorp recalls, going<br />
on to explain that having spent his spare<br />
time with friends plotting a way to make a<br />
visit a distinct possibility, “I sold shares in my<br />
previous company to finance the start-up of<br />
Mars One.” He has been working full-time on<br />
the project since 2011.<br />
The long-term vision is to bring humanity to a<br />
new planet, but Lansdorp acknowledges this<br />
is something that can’t happen overnight.<br />
“We envisage that the Mars One colony will<br />
be large and equipped enough to be selfsustainable,<br />
but we realise this can only be<br />
achieved by decades of effort and patience.”<br />
Money Talks<br />
As well as patience and hard work, a huge<br />
amount of funding and support from other<br />
initiatives and space agencies is required to<br />
quite literally get Mars One off the ground.<br />
“We estimate the cost of putting the first crew<br />
on Mars in order to sustain the first colony to<br />
be $6 billion.” This figure seems like quite a<br />
large sum, especially in light of the amount<br />
of funding the Mars One foundation has<br />
made public on their website, a figure which<br />
currently sits at $784,380.<br />
Potentially there’s a list of private investors<br />
in Mars One, who choose to keep their<br />
donations out of the public domain. However,<br />
finding $6 billion worth of investment from<br />
public contributions would require a recordbreaking<br />
level of financing.<br />
To put the challenge of raising this figure in<br />
context, we can look back at Live Aid 1985,<br />
the largest global simulcast television appeal<br />
for cash in living memory. The concerts were<br />
broadcast across the globe to an estimated<br />
audience of 1.9 billion, geared towards<br />
providing clean water, food and shelter for<br />
millions of starving people in Ethiopia. The<br />
publicity and enthusiastic support of Live Aid<br />
has never been seen since, and the figure<br />
raised as a direct result of the British and US<br />
concerts 30 years later sits at £150 million<br />
(871,088,600AED), of which the ruling family<br />
of Dubai were the largest single contributors<br />
after a direct phone conversation with<br />
organiser Bob Geldof.<br />
This was the largest appeal for the world’s<br />
public to place money into something which<br />
simply couldn’t be ignored any longer – the<br />
plight of fellow human beings with no power<br />
to be able to help themselves. The Mars One<br />
project needs to achieve funding levels of<br />
around 40 times the level of Live Aid, and in<br />
just 11 years, to reach its target.<br />
The project has apparently managed to<br />
attract some investors looking to make<br />
returns, seemingly attracted by the idea that<br />
if such a project were to take off, the television<br />
rights would be more than enough to provide<br />
a significant return on investment. It is the<br />
television rights and the intellectual property<br />
rights, or at least the profits each of these<br />
could yield investors, which will form the<br />
basis of the appeal for when Mars One floats<br />
on the Stock Exchange in the coming years.<br />
Collaboration Works<br />
But without the support of similar initiatives<br />
and the larger space agencies, the task of<br />
even launching the first crew is made much<br />
Inside one of the Mars dwellings<br />
more difficult. So what kind of relationship<br />
does Mars One enjoy with these numerous<br />
entities? “Mars One is very interested in<br />
co-operating with various space agencies<br />
in the coming years. Many of our advisers<br />
hold or have held important positions at<br />
space agencies. Most of our suppliers have<br />
developed and operated components for<br />
NASA, ESA and the International Space Station<br />
missions. Future co-operation could include<br />
sharing of hardware resources, collaborating<br />
in answering scientific questions or taking a<br />
payload of one of the space agencies on one<br />
of our missions.”<br />
Astronauts would be required to build their own residences upon Mars, should they get there<br />
Lansdorp also hopes to be able to collaborate<br />
with other companies looking to establish a<br />
human settlement on Mars. “We are looking<br />
to join forces with several other initiatives,<br />
both private and public, to allow each of us<br />
to play a role in bringing humanity to a new<br />
planet.” he states.<br />
When it comes to the technology and the<br />
personnel required for such an ambitious<br />
project, both already exist. In fact currently,<br />
there are 100 hopeful applicants being<br />
put through their paces at the Mars One<br />
headquarters in the third round of candidate<br />
testing. Two of these are Dubai residents.<br />
The original number of applicants has been<br />
stated to be somewhere between 2,000 and<br />
200,000, depending on which media outlet is<br />
reporting on it.<br />
They will eventually be cut down to four, who<br />
will potentially be the first humans to set<br />
foot on another planet. When it comes to<br />
selection of the correct candidates, Lansdorp<br />
believes that the decision is one far too<br />
great to be undertaken just by the foundation<br />
itself. “The selected crew will be heroes<br />
for generations to come as envoys of all<br />
humanity. For this reason, Mars One feels<br />
the need to share the decision of selecting<br />
the individuals with everyone. Having said<br />
that, at no point in the selection process will<br />
the wider public choose someone who the<br />
Mars One selection committee determines<br />
unfit for the mission. The expert panel in<br />
the committee will exclude anyone who is<br />
not qualified, only after which the public will<br />
choose their representatives to Mars.”<br />
ISSUE 02 ISSUE 02
THE LAST WORD<br />
50<br />
Final Thoughts of the Managing Editor<br />
To the future...<br />
And so we reach the conclusion of the second issue of Majarat. The journey involved in creating<br />
a magazine that both educates and stimulates the minds of UAE residents and nationals is a<br />
pleasurable one, and we hope that by keeping our readers up to date with all the activity at the<br />
space centre, that you feel as though you are with us as we continue with our historic missions.<br />
I must say the feedback from our first issue across social media has been overwhelming, and on<br />
behalf of the team, I thank you all for your kind words. We hope to be able to continue to inspire<br />
each and every single individual to look at the awe-inspiring world of space science and technology<br />
in a different way.<br />
Perhaps you were unaware of the significant contributions to international space programs that<br />
Arabs have already made? We will continue to cover and speak with the most inspiring role models<br />
from our region who have made such telling contributions to the credibility of the Arab world in the<br />
eyes of larger nations.<br />
One day, we could even be writing about you. Because what the UAE Hope probe mission certainly<br />
offers each and everyone of us is the opportunity to become inspired and to become involved in<br />
something that will redefine Arab history.<br />
We embark on projects such as these to give our nation hope and to inspire our people, but these<br />
projects also represent an opportunity to participate, to take part, for those with the right attitude,<br />
determination and ambition. The future is yours to create.<br />
Until next time…<br />
Mona Al Qamzi<br />
Managing Editor<br />
ISSUE 02