Abu Dhabi: A new training programme for a group of Emiratis is expected to better equip them to support the UAE’s space programmes that have already attracted global attention.
More than 20 young Emiratis will receive training in space fundamentals at global technology giant Lockheed Martin’s Centre for Innovation and Security Solutions (CISS) at Masdar City in Abu Dhabi and their facilities in the United States, officials told reporters yesterday.
The comprehensive space training programme will begin in August as part of a collaboration between Lockheed Martin and the UAE Space Agency. In line with the UAE’s national vision, the programme aims to prepare tomorrow’s Emirati leaders for future careers in space.
The dual-track rigorous training programme will focus on young professionals and undergraduate students, said Shawn Racz, manager, CISS, Lockheed Martin UAE Ltd. The young professionals’ track, which makes up the largest portion of the programme, includes participants from the UAE Space Agency, YahSat, Thuraya, Mubadala, and Mohammad Bin Rashid Space Centre.
During the four-month programme ending in November, the trainees will spend a month — September — at Lockheed Martin’s facilities in the US. Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company with an employee roster of more than 125,000 around the world. The US-based firm’s space-related business ventures are vast, with $9.1 billion (Dh33.4 billion) in space system sales in 2015, which include space launch, commercial satellites, government satellites and strategic missiles lines of business.
The UAE Space Agency signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Lockheed Martin in June to launch this programme. The agency, which supervises the nation’s ambitious Mars mission, celebrated its second anniversary last week. The UAE space probe is expected to blast off towards Mars in 2021. Sending an unmanned spacecraft to Mars will make the UAE the first Arab country and one of only nine countries with space programmes to explore Mars.
The students for the Lockheed Martin training programme were selected as emerging leaders in the space industry, Racz said. Each participating entity made those selections based on experience, leadership potential and technical prowess. The students will participate in nearly 200 hours of combined coursework, training, immersive experiences and professional development as part of the programme. Courses will cover technical topics as well as leadership skills and business acumen.
“The goal of the programme is to develop a talent pipeline for the UAE’s space talent and support the overall aerospace educational ecosystem in the UAE,” Racz said.
Anthony Mallows, executive director of Masdar City, said the programme is part of the greater efforts of the UAE to develop human capital in space sector. This will support the UAE’s transformation to a knowledge-based economy, he said.
Lockheed Martin developed the bulk of the course materials of the programme. Teachers and mentors will be experts from across the UAE and US space industries.
