As the Hope probe marks three years orbiting Mars, the UAE’s journey into space can be traced back to the 1970s.
UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, had a series of meetings with American astronauts and Nasa officials during this period.
The most memorable came in 1976, when three astronauts who had taken part in a unique collaboration with the then-Soviet Union and the US came to Abu Dhabi to give Sheikh Zayed a first glimpse of the new Space Shuttle.
One of those astronauts, Thomas P Stafford, died last week at the age of 93, after a long and distinguished career that saw him continue his interest in the UAE space programme.
He met the country’s first astronaut, Hazza Al Mansouri, on the eve of Sultan Al Neyadi's mission to the International Space Station last March.
A peacemaker
A retired US Air Force general and a veteran of the Gemini space programme of the mid 1960s, Lt Gen Stafford was the commander of a three-man crew that docked an Apollo spacecraft with a Russian Soyuz capsule as it orbited the Earth in July 1975.
The mission was intended as a gesture of detente, watched live by millions on TV at the height of the Cold War, and remains his legacy.
Reflecting on his death, Nasa administrator Bill Nelson called him "a peacemaker in Apollo Soyuz".
"Those of us privileged to know him are very sad, but grateful we knew a giant," he said.
Meeting Sheikh Zayed
A year after the link-up with the Russians, Lt Gen Stafford flew to Abu Dhabi with crew members Deke Slayton and Vance Brand for a meeting with Sheikh Zayed. They brought with them a model of the Space Shuttle, which would follow the Apollo missions in 1981.
The meeting, and two which preceded it, were arranged by the American-Egyptian scientist Dr Farouk El-Baz, then working for Nasa.
Dr El-Baz first met Sheikh Zayed 50 years ago, presenting him with a detailed map of the lunar surface, and again in 1975, when he was accompanied by an American astronaut, thought to be James Irwin, the eighth person to walk on the Moon in the Apollo 15 mission.
Dr El-Baz spoke of Sheikh Zayed and his interest in space exploration at a talk given to the Emirates Literature Foundation in 2020, saying the UAE Founding Father was fascinated by the model of the Space Shuttle and "asked a lot of interesting questions. I was very delighted to meet him early in the game".
The historic 1976 meeting in Abu Dhabi is incorporated into the design of the latest Dh1,000 bank note ($272), with a portrait of Sheikh Zayed taken from the official photograph of the 1976 meeting, next to images of the Nasa Space Shuttle and the UAE’s Hope probe.
The Apollo legacy
Lt Gen Stafford’s death means only seven of the 24 astronauts who flew to the Moon from 1969 to 1972 are still alive. He was one of the crew of Apollo 10, a dress rehearsal for the Apollo 11 landings in July 1969.
Apollo 10 orbited the Moon and tested the lunar lander in space, setting a speed record of 39,897kph on the return to Earth. He was chosen again to command the Apollo-Soyuz mission in 1975.
In private, both countries had reservations about the design of their respective craft but these were settled with the joint development of a docking system called the Androgynous Peripheral Attach System, or Apas 75, carried into space by a Saturn V rocket, left over, like the Apollo capsule, from the Moon landing programme.
The American and Russian capsules linked up on July 17, 1975, with Lt Gen Stafford shaking hands with his counterpart Alexei Leonov thorough the Apas airlock.
Lt Gen Stafford’s crewmates were Vance Brand and Deke Slayton, who also met Sheikh Zayed. Maj Brand, 92, who later commanding three Space Shuttle missions, is still living. Maj Slayton died in 1993 and may be best remembered for his part in the Apollo 13 rescue, with his role as director of flight crew operations played by the actor Chris Ellis in the 1995 Apollo 13 film with Tom Hanks.
That first joint mission between the US and Russia can today be seen as the inspiration for the International Space Station, with astronauts from many countries, including the UAE, working together, peacefully, in the name of science.
Nasa's Emirati graduates complete training - in pictures
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
Match info
Manchester City 3 (Jesus 22', 50', Sterling 69')
Everton 1 (Calvert-Lewin 65')
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'
Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.
Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.
"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.
"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.
"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
UAE squad
Ali Kashief, Salem Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Ali Mabkhout, Omar Abdelrahman, Mohammed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Mohmmed Al Shamsi, Hamdan Al Kamali, Mohammad Barghash, Khalil Al Hammadi (Al Wahda), Khalid Eisa, Mohammed Shakir, Ahmed Barman, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Adel Al Hosani, Al Hassan Saleh, Majid Suroor (Sharjah), Waleed Abbas, Ismail Al Hammadi, Ahmed Khalil (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai) Habib Fardan, Tariq Ahmed, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmeen (Al Wasl), Hassan Al Mahrami (Baniyas)
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
