United Arab Emirates Space Agency

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United Arab Emirates Space Agency
وكالة الإمارات للفضاء
United Arab Emirates Space Agency Logo.svg
Agency overview
AbbreviationUAESA
Formed2014
TypeSpace agency
HeadquartersAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
AdministratorSarah Al Amiri
Websitespace.gov.ae

The United Arab Emirates Space Agency (UAESA) (Arabic: وكالة الإمارات للفضاء‎ translit: wikālat al-Imārāt l-lifaḍā') is the space agency of the United Arab Emirates government responsible for the development of the country's space industry. It was created in 2014 and is responsible for developing, fostering and regulating a sustainable and world-class space sector in the UAE.

The agency is charged with the growth of the sector through partnerships, academic programmes and investments in R&D, commercial initiatives, and driving space science research and exploration.[1]

History[]

The UAE proposed in 2008 to establish a Pan-Arab Space Agency, as a civilian project like the European Space Agency (ESA). The Arab Science and Technology Foundation said an agency for the Middle East and North Africa already had unofficial support from some governments and hoped that a regional organisation for disseminating satellite images could form an early foundation. The agency would monitor security and environmental changes with equatorial satellites. It would not develop its own launch capability, as that was commercially available.[2] The proposed regional agency would reduce the cost of putting satellites into orbit and pool talent and research. Plans were submitted to the region's governments and pushed for at the Global Space Technology Forum in December 2009. The UAE had already launched satellites and established an Earth Observation Space Center in Abu Dhabi.[3][4][5] However, little progress to establish the regional agency was made after the proposal.[6]

The United Arab Emirates Space Agency was then established in 2014 by presidential decree.[7]

In 2015, it formed a partnership with the Centre national d'études spatiales of France,[8] as well as with the UK Space Agency.[9]

Budget[]

The space agency has gathered about $5.2 billion of funding from government, private, and semi-private entities.[10]

Strategic programme[]

The Agency's strategic goals were announced in May 2015 and include:[11]

  • Develop and guide a world-class national space sector that supports sustainable development.
  • Promote scientific research and innovation to support progress in space sciences and technologies.
  • Attract and promote young Emiratis to become space scientists and technology pioneers.
  • Build and enhance international co-operation and partnership to provide administrative services with high quality standards and transparency.

UAE Space Agency initiatives[]

Animation of Emirates Mars Mission
Around Sun
Around Mars
   Emirates Mars Mission ·   Sun ·    Earth ·   Mars

The Agency is involved in directing, investing in, and promoting a number of initiatives. The UAE has launched prior to the existence of the Agency commercial satellites constructed by EADS (YahSat 1A and 1B), Boeing (Thuraya 1, 2 and 3) and MBRSC DubaiSat-1 and DubaiSat-2, developed as part of a technology transfer programme with South Korea's Satrec Initiative, resulting in an existing space sector investment of some $5.5 billion.[11]

Space Science Research Centre, Al-Ain[]

The $27 million Al-Ain based Space Research Centre was announced on 25 May 2015. The centre is intended as an incubator for space research, development, and innovation. It will be involved in co-ordinating with a number of agencies, including the Emirates Mobile Observatory.[11]

Emirates Mars Mission[]

Main article: Emirates Mars Mission

The Emirates Mars Mission is being undertaken by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, a Government of Dubai entity.[12] The UAE successfully launched the Mars Hope mission to Mars on July 19, 2020. Mission goals include creating the first holistic diurnal picture of Mars' atmosphere with three science instruments mounted on an orbiter which is aimed to reach Mars orbit in early 2021. On 9 February 2021, it successfully put its probe into orbit around Mars.[13] The Centre employs 75 people which the UAE government hopes to double by 2020.[14]

Emirates Lunar Mission[]

Main article: Emirates Lunar Mission

On September 29, 2020, Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced the UAE's uncrewed mission to the Moon in 2024, as the country was seeking to expand its space sector. Sheikh Mohammed also said that the rover named "Rashid", after his father who is credited with modernizing Dubai, will cover "areas not yet reached in previous exploration missions".[15]

Graduate degree programme in Advanced Space Science[]

In May 2015, an MoU was signed by Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat), the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology and Orbital ATK Inc to create a Degree Programme in Advanced Space Science, the first such course of study in the Middle East. These three entities, with co-ordination and oversight from the UAE Space Agency, will launch the academic programme at Masdar Institute.

Space tourism[]

The space agency is working to bring space tourism to UAE from Al Ain International Airport serving as a potential space port for the agency.[16]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Objectives | UAE Space Agency". www.space.gov.ae. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  2. ^ Call for pan-Arab space agency, The National 27 October 2008
  3. ^ UAE develops space industry, itweb 15 April 2009
  4. ^ UAE pioneering pan Arab space agency Archived 23 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine, The Hindu 17 April 2009
  5. ^ Abu Dhabi Forum Could Boost Plans for Pan-Arab Space Agency, Khaleej Times 5 December 2009
  6. ^ Shaykhoun, Sonya. "Pan-Arab Space Agency: Pipe Dream or Real Possibility?". satellitetoday.com. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  7. ^ Schreck, Adam. "The United Arab Emirates is joining the space race". ASSOCIATED PRESS. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  8. ^ "United Arab Emirates launches space agency". 26 May 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  9. ^ "Dubai and UK satellites to work together". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  10. ^ "Why the United Arab Emirates is Building a Space Program from Scratch". 30 March 2017.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b c "UAE space agency unveils ambitious plans". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  12. ^ "UAE to build new space research centre in Al Ain". 26 May 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  13. ^ "Emirates Mars Mission: Hope spacecraft enters orbit". BBC News. 9 February 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  14. ^ SCHRECK, ASAM (25 May 2015). "United Arab Emirates aims for the stars with new plans for a national space agency". Associated Press. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  15. ^ "United Arab Emirates plans to launch mission to moon in 2024". Los Angeles Times. 29 September 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  16. ^ explore utilizing Al Ain International Airport as a potential space port
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