A UAE scientist who aimed for the stars and reached Mars

A UAE scientist who aimed for the stars and reached Mars

The engineer responsible for fuelling the UAE's Hope probe to Mars had "never thought" she would end up with a career in space. Ayesha Sharafi, a senior propulsion engineer at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), told Khaleej Times that though she was "fascinated" by stars, a career in space was "unthinkable".

"As such, I feel very grateful that what was an unthinkable dream for me is now a possibility for this generation," she said.

The young Emirati led the design and development of the Hope probe's propulsion system, which essentially provides the spacecraft with the fuel and force needed to get into Mars' orbit.The UAE made history when it launched the Arab world's first interplanetary mission to the