"The probe is currently in the testing phase and will be on its way to the Red Planet in July 2020," said Amran Sharaf, director of the Emirates Exploration Project at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center.
He told Emirates Al-Youm that the probe is currently in the testing phase, in preparation for its launch on time, in order to avoid waiting two more years to return the experiment, because if the delay of the launch, the probe will not be able to reach Mars in 2021 because of the slow rotation of Mars around The Sun is compared to the Earth, so the closest they meet is only once every two years.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has issued a directive to spread the culture of science. "The UAE has moved to the space sector in order to support the knowledge economy, support competitiveness and enter the post-oil era, which depends on innovation and creativity.
He said that the scientific event of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center addresses all groups in the society, whether they are government officials or specialists in the fields of science and engineering, university and school students, and even children at an early age.
He pointed out that the UAE's entry into the space sector serves the future of the region in terms of helping to meet the challenges of providing food and water resources and diversifying the economy. He added that the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center is cooperating with other centers in South Korea, Japan, America and Russia. Space cooperation without international cooperation in this regard.
"The space program at the center operates on a specific budget and not open, while the focus is on the elements of efficiency and productivity with the lowest costs," Sharaf said.
He pointed out that the scientific event of the Center will witness presentations of research prepared by students of citizens related to space science and exploration of Mars, expecting a high turnout to participate in the event of all categories.
For his part, Assistant Director General for Scientific and Technical Affairs Salem Al Marri said that the number of employees at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center is 200 citizens, 45% of whom are women.
He said that during the next few weeks, one of the astronauts Hazza al-Mansouri and Sultan al-Niyadi would be chosen to embark on the "probe of hope" to Mars. He said that they were undergoing an intensive training program in Russia and that the Russian side had informed him that the UAE had chosen the right people for the mission. The training process is under way.
He noted that the prices of astronauts' allowances in the world are prohibitive, with the price of the suit worn by the pilot in the vehicle hundreds of thousands of dollars, while the price of the suit worn outside the vehicle in space to seven million dollars.
Al-Marri said, "The moon sent pictures to different parts of the UAE and the world. We are now in the process of calibrating the images. We have distributed some pictures sent to government agencies to determine the accuracy of the photography. After that, we will announce that (Khalifa Sat) is actually ready for service », adding that« it will take less than six months ».
The Sound of Hope
It is planned to reach Mars by 2021, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Union of the UAE, and the Emirates Space Agency oversees the project and fully funded, while the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center develops the probe in cooperation with international partners.
Scientific event of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center
The second edition of the scientific event of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center, which is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, will take place at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai today.
This scientific and educational initiative aimed at school students, universities, academics, researchers, university professors, specialists and those interested in space science aims at enriching the knowledge of the participating students about space science and technology.
The two-day event will be opened under the slogan "Imagine ... Discover ... Innovate", the general director of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center, Yusuf Hamad Al Shaibani. The first day will witness a session on the beginnings of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center. Who will share with the public stories and lessons they have experienced during the years of the Center's founding.
The first day agenda includes lectures and panel discussions by experts from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center and a group of leading international experts on the subject of "The Role of Science in Space Exploration", "The Importance of Human Space Trips" and "What You Should Know About Mars" And "new areas of knowledge through the Emirates Mars Exploration Project", "Stories from Khalifa Sat", "Why Space" and "The Seven Months to Mars", a detailed explanation of how the Mars probe reached Mars in the 60 million km journey Which is scheduled to be launched in 2020.
The event will be the fourth annual scientific workshop of the Emirates Exploration Project, which will be opened by the Minister of State responsible for the advanced science portfolio, Sarah Bent Yousif Al Amiri. The project will highlight the scientific and technical aspects of the Emirates Mars Exploration Project, The scientific tools to be used in the project and the stages of development of the Red Planet millions of years ago, and the projects to reach Mars in the last twenty years, through four sessions held during the two days of the scientific event.
The first day of the event also includes activities for students, such as a documentary film about how to reach Jupiter and Saturn, and how to join the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center through training and fellowships. "And" analysis of space images "and" how to build models on Mars. "
Presentation of two UAE astronauts
Assistant Director General for Scientific and Technical Affairs at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center, Salem Al Marri, said that the event will include a presentation of two courses for astronauts Hazza Ali Al Mansouri and Sultan Saif Miftah Al Niyadi, who will continue their training in Moscow. Emirates, the second astronaut will be his reserve.