Ali Noureddine
This text was translated from Arabic.
On March 2, 2023, the Crew-6 mission crew launched into a journey towards the Worldwide House Station, aboard a rocket and capsule that blasted off from NASA’s Kennedy House Heart. This mission holds important significance for the Arab world, as one of many 4 collaborating astronauts, Emirati Sultan Al-Neyadi, underwent coaching by way of the “UAE Astronaut Program” earlier than becoming a member of the flight.
Aside from Al-Neyadi, the crew comprised a Russian astronaut and two different NASA astronauts, making it a transnational collaboration. Nevertheless, the UAE’s involvement on this flight marked the primary time an Arab nation participated in a long-term house mission, making the flight distinctive and symbolic. Following this mission, the UAE will grow to be the eleventh nation to take part in such endeavor all through historical past.
After safely arriving on the Worldwide House Station, the Crew-6 mission crew started executing this system’s targets, which span over roughly six months. Among the many major targets is the implementation of 200 scientific and technological experiments, together with organic experiments to review the expansion of human cells in house, and chemical experiments to discover the management of flamable supplies in microgravity. On this regard, the United Arab Emirates will contribute to a collection of analysis and discoveries, resulting in new missions to far-off planets.
This excellent accomplishment for the UAE is the fruits of a number of plans and methods developed over the previous three many years to advance its house sector. The end result of this endeavor extends past the nation’s participation in scientific and analysis achievements, because it additionally yields monetary, strategic, and political advantages that the UAE will leverage in the long term, aligning with its pursuits within the house sector.
The event of the UAE house sector
In 1997, the UAE started its journey towards creating an area sector with the institution of the Thuraya Communications Firm, specializing in satellite tv for pc communications. The corporate’s companies have progressively expanded to incorporate satellite-based options benefiting a wide range of sectors, together with audiovisual, navy, power, web, and communication. Immediately, two satellites owned by the corporate cowl over two-thirds of the globe.
Roughly ten years following the institution of Thuraya Cellular Satellite tv for pc Communications Firm, the Mubadala Growth Firm, Abu Dhabi’s funding arm, established the Al-Yah Satellite tv for pc Communications Firm, now referred to as Yahsat. Yahsat supplies satellite tv for pc communication companies within the Center East, Africa, and Central and Southwest Asia, very like Thuraya. The corporate now operates three satellites launched from France and Kazakhstan to facilitate its operations.
In 2006, the Mohammed bin Rashid House Heart was established by the Dubai authorities, and since then, it has launched 4 satellites of various sizes and functions. One of many heart’s most noteworthy satellites is the superior KhalifaSat, solely designed and manufactured by Emirati engineers. In contrast to Thuraya and Al-Yah’s communication-centric satellites, the middle’s tasks have broader targets, encompassing earth commentary, analysis, imaging, sensing, and schooling.
The UAE at the moment operates 14 satellites, making it the second-largest operator within the Center East and North Africa area. To control and develop this sector, the UAE House Company was established, serving because the official regulatory physique with the authority to outline work requirements for corporations working throughout the subject.
Important financial features within the subject of satellite tv for pc communications
Emirati corporations have grow to be formidable rivals on the worldwide stage in satellite tv for pc communications companies as a consequence of their early entry into the sector. These corporations now supply their companies to private and non-private sectors throughout greater than 140 international locations. Moreover, they collaborate with the vast majority of overseas companies in industries like aviation, transport, media, and communications, providing satellite tv for pc communication companies in areas that account for 80% of the world’s inhabitants.
Moreover, the UAE leveraged the event of the satellite tv for pc communications sector to reinforce its native communications infrastructure, which makes use of satellites to attach with the world. As a consequence, the UAE ranks third globally in web pace, in keeping with the Digital High quality of Life Index. In 2022, web pace within the UAE was roughly 4.3 occasions sooner than the worldwide common and 1.4 occasions sooner than the typical pace in a developed nation like Norway.
Between 2015 and 2020, industrial investments within the house communications sector reached AED10.9 billion, or almost $3 billion. In the meantime, the UAE authorities invested near AED22 billion, or about $6 billion, as a part of its long-term technique to diversify the financial system and scale back dependence on oil.
To additional increase state investments on this subject, the UAE launched the “Nationwide House Fund” in 2022, with a capital of three billion dirhams (about 817 million US {dollars}). The fund goals to determine new nationwide corporations within the sector, improve revenues from satellite tv for pc communications, finance analysis actions and house research, and develop Emirati human cadres for future management within the sector.
A number of initiatives are at the moment underway, together with the event of a specialised academy to reinforce the capabilities of satellite tv for pc engineers, the institution of a fancy for house knowledge and knowledge, and the creation of an incubator for small corporations engaged on tasks funded by the Nationwide House Fund.
UAE Nationwide House Program
In April 2017, the UAE unveiled its bold plans for the house sector, far exceeding its earlier investments in house communications. The UAE Nationwide House Program was launched, setting a 100-year plan that goals to determine the primary human settlement on Mars by 2117.
As a part of this program, a particular initiative was established to coach Emirati astronauts, leading to astronaut Sultan Al-Neyadi collaborating within the ultimate flight in direction of the Worldwide House Station. The primary scientific metropolis was established to simulate life on Mars, in addition to specialised laboratories and services to simulate zero gravity. The International Council for House Settlement was additionally established to attach knowledge, analysis, and actions of essentially the most distinguished specialists and scientists within the subject in cooperation with universities and analysis facilities around the globe.
Because of this program, the UAE has grow to be a world participant in crewed house flights, conducting scientific experiments and exploring house. Notably, the UAE was the primary nation within the Arab world to determine a middle specialised in astronaut coaching, giving it a head begin in collaborating in long-term crewed house flights.
The UAE’s astronaut coaching heart continues to obtain beneficiant funding from the Data and Communication Know-how Growth Fund (ICTFund), which is able to allow it to coach extra Emirati astronauts for future extraterrestrial missions.
Strategic objectives for bold new house tasks
The UAE has achieved important monetary features prior to now from the event of the satellite tv for pc communications sector, and now seeks to realize new strategic objectives from its bold house tasks.
In accordance with Morgan Stanley Company, the house sector’s revenues are anticipated to exceed $1 trillion in 2040, together with house actions associated to safety, Earth commentary, climate monitoring, communications, the Web, and others. Subsequently, the UAE clearly goals to extend its share of those revenues by way of its house tasks.
Furthermore, the UAE goals to help its international place and improve its picture and status as a number one nation in analysis that’s useful to humanity. In flip, this can assist to boost the state’s standing within the eyes of the worldwide group, which is able to subsequently have an effect on world politics and overseas affairs. The internet hosting of the “Expo 2020 Dubai” occasions can also be one instance of how the UAE is positioning itself as a developed nation.
The UAE is moreover fascinated with investigating the potential for extracting economically helpful supplies from house. The nation is likewise fascinated with increasing tutorial specializations in house research and exploration at Emirati universities and reaping the monetary rewards that analysis, patents, and discoveries could generate.
Moreover, the expansion of the house sector will contribute to the event of different associated sectors, such because the information financial system sector, and also will improve the tradition and capabilities of discovery and analysis regionally. Reaching the stage of self-sufficiency in manufacturing satellites and different house tools regionally will create new job alternatives and revitalize corporations that provide items and companies to the house sector, thereby additional diversifying the UAE financial system.