Abu Dhabi: Trial and error is part of the space mission story since the early 1960s, said an expert in the capital on Wednesday.
Of the last 10 Mars missions, seven missions succeeded, said James Crocker, Vice-President and General Manager, Space Systems Company International, Lockheed Martin.
He was speaking on the second day of the Global Space and Satellite Forum 2015 in Abu Dhabi.
“Failure is a part of learning and I regularly tell this to the third generation of Mars explorers,” he said.
Crocker said: “When we succeed in Mars missions, it changes the way we look at the world and changes the way we look at ourselves.”
Dr Mike Mcgrath, Director of Engineering, LAPS, University of Colorado Boulder, said that significant investment and time is needed and such missions continue to be difficult.
However, there is an optimism, attitude and approach that looks forward to the challenge in the UAE, he said.
“The people are motivated and focused. The level of teamwork is remarkable. The Mars mission is about culture and cultural interaction, it will help advance the world,” Mcgrath said.
The forum discussed the contribution of satellites to solving critical social and economic issues.
