Arab countries have been busy with a rush of space activities in the past few years.
Emirati and Saudi astronauts have joined forces in orbit, Oman is possibly building the Middle East's first spaceport and Kuwait and Bahrain are developing nanosatellites.
But Arab space agencies hope that these are only the first steps in what is expected to be a long-term space exploration programme by the region.
The UAE and Saudi Arabia have ambitious plans to send astronauts to the Moon and beyond in the future, while smaller Arab nations such as Kuwait and Bahrain are developing satellite programmes to inspire their citizens into Stem fields.
“There are a lot of emerging space countries that are now taking active steps to be participants and introduce their space sector globally,” Mishaal Ashemimry, special adviser to the chief executive of the Saudi Space Commission, told The National in an interview on Tuesday.
“Certainly in the region you’re seeing an increasing trend of interest in participation in the space economy.
“I believe in the next few years the efforts and missions are going to increase, and the contributions are going to increase tremendously.”
The effect of space exploration on the region’s education sector is already showing, with more school pupils and university students getting involved in research.
Dimitra Atri, a space scientist at New York University Abu Dhabi, said his students are involved in research based on observations of Mars being made by the UAE’s Hope probe.
“Local universities, including NYUAD, offer a variety of research prospects for students,” he told The National.
“My group has a new opportunity this year, which is for training UAE nationals in space research.”
Dr Atri added that while some students have already entered the aerospace and defence sector in the UAE, others have pursued research positions and higher education abroad.
“Recent graduates of my group who worked with Hope data were offered positions at Oxford and Cambridge, which is very exciting,” he said.
More long-duration space missions
The UAE sent the first Arab astronaut, Sultan Al Neyadi, on a long-duration space mission with the help of Axiom Space, a Houston company that helps arrange trips to the International Space Station (ISS).
But the mission was also possible because Dr Al Neyadi graduated from a Nasa programme that allows him to be part of agency-led missions.
The UAE’s other astronauts, Hazza Al Mansouri, the first Emirati in space, Nora Al Matrousi and Mohammed Al Mulla, are also eligible for Nasa-led missions.
Saudi Arabia sent its first two astronauts to the orbiting outpost on May 22 for an eight-day stay as part of a private trip by Axiom Space.
But the kingdom hopes to send citizens into space for long-term stays.
“We do have a desire and a goal to have long-stay missions that will capitalise on that microgravity environment,” Ms Ashemimry said on April 6.
“That's essentially what we would like to do with this human space flight programme."
Countries like Saudi Arabia would benefit from commercial space stations, because they would be able to pay to send their astronauts for long stays.
Only partners of the space station – the US, Russia, Japan, European Space Agency and Canada – are currently eligible for six-month missions to the ISS.
The UAE became the first non-partner country to send an astronaut on a long-duration mission.
These lengthy stays on the ISS help prepare astronauts for missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as carry out research in microgravity for scientists on Earth.
Going to the Moon and Mars
The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have expressed interest in exploring the Moon and Mars, having signed the US-led Artemis Accords.
The international agreement outlines responsible exploration of space, including regions beyond low-Earth orbit.
"The Artemis programme is pretty big. Whether you contribute through technology or astronauts, it's a big programme," Ms Ashemimry told The National.
"So, determining the exact technology that you're going to be developing to benefit all the Artemis Accords signatories and participating with astronauts – I think all that is open for us to do, for sure."
Only Nasa's Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft can currently fly to the Moon, with an uncrewed test flight and lunar orbit completed last year.
SpaceX is developing its Starship rocket for deep-space missions.
Nasa and its international partners are developing the Lunar Gateway, a small station in the Moon's orbit in which astronauts will live before descending to the surface.
Nasa has contracted SpaceX and Blue Origin to develop landers for the Artemis programme that will allow astronauts to touch down on the lunar surface .
Increasing exploratory missions
With a probe already orbiting Mars, the UAE is hoping to increase the number of exploration missions.
Its next big mission involves a spacecraft that will explore seven asteroids in the main asteroid belt, a region between Mars and Jupiter.
This project is expected to help pave the way for the local private space sector, with more than 50 per cent of the mission to be developed by local companies.
It is expected that involving UAE-based companies will contribute to the national economy.
Once the Emirates has an established private space sector, companies would then be competing for contracts from government-run agencies such as the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre and the UAE Space Agency.
This demand could increase the cadence of exploration missions, ultimately helping the overall space sector in the UAE grow significantly.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
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MATCH INFO
Asian Champions League, last 16, first leg:
Al Ain 2 Al Duhail 4
Second leg:
Tuesday, Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha. Kick off 7.30pm
UAE SQUAD
Omar Abdulrahman (Al Hilal), Ali Khaseif, Ali Mabkhout, Salem Rashed, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Zayed Al Ameri, Mohammed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Khalid Essa, Ahmed Barman, Ryan Yaslam, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Habib Fardan, Tariq Ahmed, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmin (Al Wasl), Adel Al Hosani, Ali Hassan Saleh, Majed Suroor (Sharjah), Ahmed Khalil, Walid Abbas, Majed Hassan, Ismail Al Hammadi (Shabab Al Ahli), Hassan Al Muharrami, Fahad Al Dhahani (Bani Yas), Mohammed Al Shaker (Ajman)
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
MORE ON IRAN'S PROXY WARS
Scorebox
Sharjah Wanderers 20-25 Dubai Tigers (After extra-time)
Wanderers
Tries Gormley, Penalty
Cons Flaherty
Pens Flaherty 2
Tigers
Tries O’Donnell, Gibbons, Kelly
Cons Caldwell 2
Pens Caldwell, Cross
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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Off-roading in the UAE: How to checklist
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
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A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
Company%20Profile
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