Dubai: Dubai has crossed milestones when it comes to the field of science and technology. One major factor that’s had played a central role in its achievements is the establishment of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) by the Dubai Government in 2015.
The centre is integral to the strategic initiative put in place by the government to inspire scientific innovation and technological advancement, and to advance sustainable development in Dubai and the UAE.
Currently, the centre comprises a team of more than 150 Emirati employees, 70 per cent of whom are leading UAE engineers, analysts and experts.
The team is working towards positioning the UAE as an internationally renowned leader in the field of science and technology.
The centre’s research and development facilities based in Dubai will enable its team to work independently in order to achieve the institution’s goal of building a sustainable knowledge economy, set to help drive the UAE forward for decades to come.
The Mohammad Bin Rashid Space Centre has already accomplished a number of significant achievements, most notably the launches of DubaiSat 1 and DubaiSat 2 which continue to orbit the planet capturing imagery, which is sent back to the headquarters.
The centre has also started development of its third satellite — KhalifaSat — due for launch in 2018.
Meanwhile, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced last year that the UAE would send the first Arab probe to Mars to create mankind’s first integrated model of the Martian atmosphere.
To be launched in July 2020, the unmanned probe called Al Amal (Arabic for hope) will go an approximately 200-day journey. It is expected to enter Mars’ orbit in the first quarter of 2021, in time for the UAE’s 50th National Day.
The mission is not only focused on the journey to the red planet; team members are busy conducting workshops to prepare the community and scientific community on how to utilise the data that will be gathered by the probe.
The centre was also directed by Shaikh Mohammad to lead the Mars 2117 project and prepare a 100-year plan for its implementation.
As per Shaikh Mohammad’s orders, the centre’s plan will focus on preparing specialised national cadres and developing their capabilities in the field of space science, research, artificial intelligence, robotics and advanced space technologies.
The centre will also put in place a detailed plan for the next five years that will deal with all technological, logistical and technical aspects of the project. Shaikh Mohammad also instructed MBRSC to introduce a scientific, research and behavioural programme to instill a passion for knowledge in the new generation of students in Emirati schools and universities.
