Shaikh Mohammed reviews plans for UAE’s Mars mission

His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, chaired the inaugural meeting of the UAE Space Agency team who set plans for sending the first probe to Mars from the region and the Arab world.

Shaikh Mohammed reviewed plans for this ambitious project in terms of organisational, legislative and administrative aspects. The meeting also shed light on the framework and milestones to be achieved in the coming years for sending an unmanned probe to Mars by the year 2021.

In presence of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs; Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs and Chairman of the board of Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA); Mohammed Dhaen Al Qamzi, Shaikh Mohammed reiterated the pivotal role of the wise leadership and vision of the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in addition to his unwavering support in fueling the development march of the country.

During the meeting, Shaikh Mohammed directed all government institutions to provide maximum support to the mission’s team. He highlighted the importance of preparing a new generation of aerospace engineers and professionals and the need to create a constructive legislative environment for its operation and development.

Shaikh Mohammed was briefed on the steps of the ambitious mission of sending an unmanned probe to Mars by 2021 as he directed team members to work with international scientific institutions in the field of space exploration and to carefully study previous missions to explore the red planet.

“This is a historic mission and an epic challenge for the Arab and Islamic world led by a team of fine and dedicated Emirati talent. Our success will reflect positively on the trustworthy reputation we have established. This is a message for the new Arab generation to trust in their capabilities and what they can achieve,” said Shaikh Mohammed.

The establishment of the UAE Space Agency marks the entry of the UAE into the global space industry market. Only nine countries in the world have programmes to explore the red planet. The nine-month journey the Mars probe will undertake will also mark the country’s 50th anniversary in 2021. The UAE aims to build Emirati technical and intellectual capabilities in the fields of aerospace and space exploration, enter the space industry and make use of space technology in a way that enhances the country’s development plans.

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