Tragedy should not stop exploration

Friday was a tragic day for Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Galactic. After nearly a decade of research, its prototype spacecraft crashed during a test flight, killing one of the pilots and critically injuring the other. The accident – provisionally attributed to an "in-flight anomaly" – is a serious blow to an industry on the verge of taking to the edge of space anyone able to afford the $250,000 [Dh918,000] fee. Some in the UAE have signed up.

This was not the only bad news for the space industry in recent months. A NASA rocket scheduled to deliver cargo to the International Space Station blew up on take-off last week. Falcon 9 – a pilotless spacecraft designed to reduce the costs of space travel by delivering a payload in space and then landing back on Earth upright and ready for rapid reuse – crashed during a test flight in August.

These events, along with the Challenger and Columbia space shuttle disasters, show that space travel remains a difficult and undertested realm that is pushing the boundaries of technology. After the Virgin Galactic incident, some observers were predicting doom for space tourism. Will Sir Richard’s dream really perish? It’s unlikely.

For generations, space travel was the stuff of science fiction. Then the space race between the Soviet Union and the United States from 1955 saw a surge in development, culminating in landing men on the Moon in1969. It reflects the human trait to push limits and test boundaries, using ingenuity to tackle profound challenges. What was achieved was truly mind-boggling.

The early days of space exploration in the 1950s and 1960s saw more than their share of failures. This was, after all, rocket science – and these early craft had less computing power than can be found in a Dh100 mobile phone today.

The nature of this quest is why reaching the Moon did not mean the end of space exploration, with many countries – including the UAE – setting their sights on Mars. This involves risk and the possibility of failure but it says much about human nature that failure is seen as a lesson from which success will eventually come.

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

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Key facilities

Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
Premier League-standard football pitch
400m Olympic running track
NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
600-seat auditorium
Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
Specialist robotics and science laboratories
AR and VR-enabled learning centres
Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills

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The bio

Who inspires you?

I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist

How do you relax?

Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.

What is favourite book?

The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times

What is your favourite Arabic film?

Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki

What is favourite English film?

Mamma Mia

Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?

If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.

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'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'

Director:Michael Lehmann

Stars:Kristen Bell

Rating: 1/5

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