UAE prepares for a new phase of space exploration

UAE prepares for a new phase of space exploration

DUBAI: When the UAE’s Sultan AlNeyadi stepped outside the airlock of the International Space Station to begin a seven hour spacewalk over a month ago, he etched his name in history books as the first Arab astronaut to venture into the unknown depths of space. The remarkable feat was the highlight of the Arab world’s longest space mission, Zayed Ambition 2, one of a series of ambitious projects that have entrenched the UAE’s place in the orbit of elite spacefaring nations.

AlNeyadi’s journey to the ISS announced the country’s aspirations to be a major player in the world of crewed space flights. Despite being a relatively new entrant into the club of spacefaring nations, the UAE seeks to launch human space missions every three to five years, a goal that is one among a long list of groundbreaking space projects.

The role of the founding fathers

“The remarkable achievements of the UAE National Space Programme have been made possible by the vision of the country’s founding fathers and the strategic investments made by its current leadership in developing the infrastructure, technologies and talent needed to make it a frontrunner in the global space industry,” says Hamad Obaid AlMansoori, Chairman of the Mohammed Bin