Dubai The Dubai Astronomy Group (DAG) is hosting a series of events to mark World Space Week beginning October 4.
Speaking to XPRESS ahead of the worldwide celebrations, group chair Hassan Al Hiriri said: “The UAE may be a relatively new player in the space arena, but the potential for exploration is vast. We need to do everything we can to educate and motivate the younger generations to support the UAE’s initiatives and appreciate the role of technology and the beauty of our surroundings.”
Mars mission
Earlier this year the UAE announced ambitious plans for a Mars mission, becoming the ninth country to join the global “Martian club”. The unmanned probe, which will be launched in July 2020 and reach Mars in 2021, aims to produce the first global picture of the Martian atmosphere and how its various layers fit together. With 150 Emirati engineers and scientists working on the mission, the spacecraft will be launched on a 60 million kilometre journey that will take around seven months.
Al Hariri said the UAE’s space plans are on track. “We are trying to build up the momentum to the grand mission and demonstrate to the younger generations the vast applications of space technology.”
He said DAG will organise a space week festival starting October 4.
The festival will be held at the New World Private School in Al Twar. It will run till October 8 and be open to the public. The timings are from 8am to 8pm. The festival will include space-oriented shows, planet-arium, 3D theatre, space gallery, besides expert talks and lectures in English and Arabic.
Al Hariri said a star-gazing party will also be organised at Mushrif Park in the evenings. Entry is free.
“We will be happy to host schools at our events and those interested can contact us for details by calling 04-441 0775 or email us at astro@dubaiastronomy.com.”
In a separate press statement, the Arab Youth Venture Foundation said, “Events such as space fashion shows, space art contests, space displays, exhibits and demonstrations with rockets and robots, stargazing, special planetarium sessions to name a few, take place in over 80 nations and for the sixth year in the UAE sponsored by the Arab Youth Venture Foundation. Events can be classified private or public and can be found or posted on the WSW Event List on www.worldspaceweek.org.”
