Space exploration has always captured people's imaginations, but launching space has many economic, social and environmental benefits more than just satisfying human curiosity. Most of the rockets that are launched into Earth’s orbit carry satellites, and had it not been for the development of their technologies, we would have had satellite TV and radio stations, and a high-speed Internet , Global Positioning System, better weather and ocean and plant monitoring. And after the satellites were expensive and huge in the size of cars, we reached the production of a satellite the size of a water bottle a few thousand dollars, and launched it with a small low-cost missile, thanks to scientific and technical developments during the past decades, and the increasing participation of private companies in this field. But sending satellites to Earth’s orbits will not be the primary goal of future space missions, but will include material manufacture in gravity, space tourism, sub-orbital travel, acquisition of rare metals, and research.
Space ports in the world
Launch pads have boomed globally, and industry professionals call them "space ports." Today, there are 21 active launchers in various locations around the world. Since landing on the moon, 135 space shuttles have been launched into space and about 8,900 satellites in the programs of 40 different countries. The number of such launches has doubled in the past decade, and space travel has become a more lucrative and competitive industry. About $ 16.1 billion was invested in private space companies and partnerships between 2009 and 2018. Merrill Lynch, a subsidiary of Bank of America, estimated that the value of the space industry would be more than $ 3 trillion by 2045. Today, the small number of space ports globally hinders the development of the space industry.
What is the ideal location for the space port?
There are no platforms for launching space rockets in the Arab countries, but what prevents this? And if the UAE thought to establish a space port, what is the possibility of that? What is the point of creating a platform in it? Let's look at the requirements for establishing a space port, and see if this is possible on the territory of the Emirates?
1. Proximity to the equator
The closer the launch platform is to the equator, the greater its overall efficiency, as the equator moves relatively more rapidly as the Earth rotates, and the angular velocity decreases toward the poles. The higher the latitude, the easier it is to launch the object into orbit. For example, the earth's surface in Canada is moving at a speed of about 800 km per hour, and this speed doubles at the equator, to become 1600 kilometers per hour. Thus, the closer to the equator, the more Earth the momentum. However, there are only a few launch pads near the equator.
2. Coastal site
Locations near large water bodies are ideal for missile launches, due to safety considerations. These sites reduce the risk of missile parts that could damage property if they fall. Here, too, the vast open spaces, including the Emirates desert, are ideal for launch. For example, the world's first commercial space port built for this purpose is located in the deserts of New Mexico in the United States of America. Deserts may be more attractive than coastal sites.
3. The weather
The Atlas Centaur missile was launched from Cape Canaveral in cloudy weather and heavy rain in 1987. The lightning struck the missile and destroyed its guidance system, due to the electrified environment, and the missile must be detonated. The lightning struck a NASA Saturn 5 missile twice while climbing as part of the Apollo 12 mission, but it was not damaged. Since then, NASA has determined optimum weather conditions for launches, including avoiding cumulus clouds and anvil clouds at any cost, because the missile may cause lightning due to the electric field in the atmosphere.
4. Reaching the supply chain
The proximity to manufacturing and logistics centers is very important to the space port, as it enables the supply and delivery of heavy parts more easily. And it makes the world-class logistics infrastructure in the Emirates from its ports to its airports to the storage facilities located in it, the ideal country for this purpose, especially with an airport like Al Maktoum Airport, and will be equipped in the future to deal with traditional planes, supersonic planes and space planes, thanks to its ground services and its ability On the supply of missile fuel.
Conditions like me
The UAE provides a number of optimal conditions for the space port, and has started its national space exploration program. Therefore, establishing a space port in the country appears to be the next logical step. Regardless of the potential for future discoveries that may revolutionize the world and provide solutions to meet the challenges in the fields of energy, waste, and others, the creation of a national space industry will provide ample social and economic benefits for present generations. Investments in industry will yield significant returns, including encouraging science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning, and creating new jobs. Perhaps it is time for the UAE to benefit from its current infrastructure, distinguished geographical location, and space race entry into the 21st century.
• In space there are many economic, social and environmental benefits more than just satisfying human curiosity.
• After the satellites were expensive and huge, we reached a satellite the size of a water bottle.