hamdan bin mohammed - Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre

Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre Magazine

ISSUE 2 September 2015

Inspired by Space Science and Technology

HAMDAN BIN MOHAMMED The new Chairman of MBRSC tours the centre and announces a 15-year strategic plan for development

HAMAD AL MANSOURI The Chairman of the Board talks about MBRSC’s role in the knowledge-based economy

PROFESSOR MELIKECHI The renowned Arab scientist on NASA‘s efforts to explore Mars

A NEW EARTH Astronomers discover Kepler-452b, the most Earth-like planet ever found

3 Governments that set an example for innovation have the power to implant a nationwide culture of creativity. When such a culture takes root, people feel inspired to run further with their ideas, to aim higher with their ambitions and to pursue bigger dreams.

CONTENTS

Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre Magazine

ISSUE 2 September 2015

Inspired by Space Science and Technology

HAMDAN BIN MOHAMMED The new Chairman of MBRSC tours the centre and announces a 15-year strategic plan for development

HAMAD AL MANSOURI The Chairman of the Board talks about MBRSC’s role in the knowledgebased economy

PROFESSOR MELIKECHI The renowned Arab scientist on NASA‘s efforts to explore Mars

A NEW EARTH Astronomers discover Kepler-452b, the most Earth-like planet ever found

A magazine specialised in space science and technology, issued bi-monthly and produced on behalf of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre.

Discover

General Supervisor Yousuf Hamad Al Shaibani Director General

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Editorial - Yousef Hamad Al Shaibani

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Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum installed as the Chairman of the MBRSC

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Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum works to develop a strategic plan for the MBRSC

[email protected]

Managing Editor Mona Al Qemzi Assistant Director General for Financial and Administrative Affairs

Editorial Secretary Saeed Al-Emadi

13 Hamad Obaid Al Mansouri, Chairman MBRSC

Inspire

16 Omran Sharaf, Emirates Mars Mission Project Manager

Media and External Communication officer

18 NASA discovers new Earth

Editorial and design

20 New Horizons, new discoveries 22 International Space News

Editorial Board Amani Abuseedo Dan Charter Nicole Rehbane Dua Al Shafey

26 Noureddine Melikechi 29 Abdul Kalam

Motivate

30 NASA trip inspires Emiratis to pursue a career in space 32 The 10 most iconic images from human space endeavour 38 The story of the first Arab in space

Design and production Sree E S

41 Frank-Uwe Ungerer - DHL

To contact the magazine: MBRSC: +971 4 6071200 7G Media: +971 4 449 5427 [email protected] [email protected]

44 The greatest spacecraft of all time 48 Mars One – A new civilisation on Mars in under 15 years?

Intermission

50 Editorial - Mona Al Qamzi

All information provided in Majarat is provided for information purposes only. Although every reasonable effort is made to present current and accurate information, Majarat makes no guarantees of any kind and cannot be held liable for any outdated or incorrect information. Copyright 2015. All Rights Reserved

Printed by Emirates Printing Press

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EDITORIAL Words from the Director General

Taking successful steps on our journey If there is no struggle, there is no progress and no success… Hoping to come up with new ideas and succeed without exerting effort and taking risks is an unachievable dream, a dream that will never see the light of the day, and a dream that cannot build institutions and cannot achieve development. Those who sit back and look aimlessly at the opportunities end up missing the train and fail to continue their journey. We must take risks and embrace challenges based on vision, creativity and innovation. The best way to face challenges and devise a distinguished idea is to come up with many different ideas initially. This is a feature that characterises ambitious and inspiring institutions that believe in the existence of opportunities, nourishing optimism, attracting innovators and spreading creative and positive energy. These are the lessons we have learned at the Mohammed bin Rashid School for leadership, and have acquired at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) since its inception, and previously in the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) since 2006. We continue to carry these lessons with us throughout our journey towards promoting scientific innovation and technical progress in the UAE. We are in the year which our government has declared as the Year of Innovation, during which the government continues the implementation of its plan directed towards the development of education, the inclusion of technology in schools and the focus on teaching science, engineering and mathematics. We are optimistic about achieving our goal, which is to establish an infrastructure for space science by launching specialised scientific and knowledge-based programs, as well as pushing innovation forward and making use of its applications in all development programs. The UAE is currently seeing the development of qualified institutions that are capable of developing the next generation of national engineers, experts and scientists in the fields of advanced technology and space engineering, through continuous training programs and the transfer of knowledge. They also offer grants for advanced academic studies, scientific research, knowledge and expertise, and practical training in testing and production facilities, as well as in the fields of spacecraft and satellite launch. The appointment of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid as Chairman and General Supervisor of all projects at MBRSC and its strategic and development plans reflects the leadership’s approach in providing its support to the fullest, as well as financing and sponsoring projects like the Hope Probe mission to explore the Red Planet.

Join us to work on the most ambitious national scientific projects An inspiring work environment based on training and career development

The presence of HH Hamdan Bin Mohammed in all national working fields and as Chairman of MBRSC, his long-term vision and his motivational actions to push forward development, quality and excellence, is a motivation and inspiration to keep us going on our ambitious journey.

At MBRSC, we are embarking upon a national, inspirational journey abound with ambitious scientific projects that will serve as a beacon of scientific progress in space science in the UAE and the Arab world. These projects offer unmatched career opportunities for ambitious and talented Emirati engineers, administrative and technical staff, allowing them to participate in the implementation of these projects and contribute to shaping the promising future of the UAE.

Yousuf Hamad Al Shaibani Director General

Become a source of national pride. Apply via e-mail: [email protected] or visit www.mbrsc.ae for more information. ISSUE 02

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UAE Space News

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed installed as the Chairman of MBRSC A decree issued by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid has appointed Sheikh Hamdan as the Chairman of MBRSC, as he issued a law to establish the centre, to appoint its Board of Directors and to determine its specialisations.

Ground control satellites swing into motion at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre dedicated to manufacturing satellites in the country, so as to utilise their application in all development sectors. “The centre will be responsible for initiating a national core of knowledge in space science, promoting innovation in this field, and the launching of scientific and educational programs in collaboration with specialised international bodies. It will further promote scientific development and innovation in space science in the country. The centre will also fund research and innovation projects related to space.

In his capacity as Ruler of Dubai, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE His Highness Sheikh Mohammed issued a decree appointing Sheikh Hamdan, Crown Prince of Dubai, as Chairman and general supervisor of all the centre’s projects and its strategic and development plans. HH also issued a decree to appoint the centre’s Board of Directors, to determine its

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The centre’s establishment decree in full

will support the country’s ongoing efforts in the field of space, and will supervise the design, manufacturing and launch of Al Amal, or Hope, the Arab world’s first Mars probe.

“Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has issued a law establishing the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, which

Additionally, the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre will serve as a platform to provide an integrated infrastructure

specialisations in a way so as to support the UAE’s vision in the space sector.

“The centre will be serving vital development sectors in the country through utilising the best international practices and applications in advanced space technologies. In order to accomplish its objectives, the centre will have the right to establish technological companies, invest in satellite projects, launch space projects and fund spacerelated research and activities. It will coordinate with the government, regional

and global bodies and hold specialised conferences as well as develop regional and global networks in the field of science and the application of space technologies.” Sheikh Mohammed also issued a law joining the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) with the centre, and thus EIAST is now to be under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, and will be considered one of its affiliated institutions. The law further appoints a CEO to EIAST, who will implement and follow-up the policies, plans and programs set by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre.

Board of Directors appointment Sheikh Mohammed also issued a resolution appointing Hamad Obaid Al Sheikh Al Mansouri as Chairman of the Board of Directors at the centre, Yousef Ahmed Al Shaibani as Vice Chairman, in addition to Mansour Abdullah Bastaki, Mohammed Saif Al Miqbali and Mansoor Juma Bu Osaiba as

members of the Board of Directors at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. The board will set the general policies, development and strategic plans, approve and assess programs, follow-up the Executive Authority’s performance, approve the organisational structure and the annual budget and drive all authorities and powers towards achieving its objectives. The centre will have a Director General who will be appointed by a resolution from the Chairman. The Director General will be responsible for proposing policies, preparing work plans, programs and the organisational structure as well as all decisions on technical, administrative and financial aspects related to the centre. He will also prepare the annual budget, followup the implementation of all the resolutions approved by the board and oversee the organisational units of the centre, as well as prepare the annual follow-up reports pertaining to the projects and programs carried out by the centre.

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UAE Space News

DISCOVER UAE Space News

Hamdan bin Mohammed works to develop a strategic plan for MBRSC

Sheikh Hamdan reiterated that developments carried out in the space sector provide added value to the UAE’s various sectors, and to the country’s international reputation. “Our task now is to make sure that spacerelated knowledge is put to productive use,” said Sheikh Hamdan addressing the board members and the team of engineers, scientists, researchers and administrative staff during the meeting. He also highlighted the importance of building an Emirati generation that has the confidence and courage to enter into competition with major countries in the competitive field of space. “You are the core and the bedrock of a successful future with regard to the space sector, as our country is moving toward knowledge-based technologies,” said Sheikh Hamdan. He added that the UAE, under the leadership of UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will lead the region in the space sector, noting that His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum wants the UAE to be at the forefront of the world’s biggest countries in this field before 2021.

In relation to the 15-year strategy, Sheikh Hamdan emphasised the importance of encompassing all existing and future projects and programs undertaken by MBRSC within the plan. He added that developing a satellite system, expanding in space exploration, and initiating scientific projects and research within the country will be a priority in the immediate future.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum wants the UAE to be at the forefront of the world’s biggest countries in this field before 2021. Sheikh Hamdan was accompanied by Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi and Chairman of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of the UAE (TRA), Mohamad Ahmad Al-Qamzi.

His Highness was briefed on the Hope project, the Arab world’s first Mars probe, as well as other satellite projects such as DubaiSat-1 and DubaiSat-2, which at the time marked a national milestone as they were the first Remote Sensing satellites to be fully-owned by a UAE entity. Sheikh Hamdan listened to a detailed presentation on KhalifaSat, the first satellite to be fully built and manufactured by the hands of competent UAE experts, due to be sent into orbit by 2018. The presentation shed light on other projects carried out by MBRSC, such as CubeSAT and Nayif-1, the first satellite designed to meet the scientific research needs of Emirati students at the American University of Sharjah. During the visit, His Highness checked the initial facilities for the manufacture of satellites, which include the Clean Room and laboratories that are allocated for electrical and mechanical engineering. These facilities were built and equipped according to the highest international standards and specifications, and constitute the first phase of the laboratories that are being currently

Hamdan bin Mohammed on a tour of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council and Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, chaired the first meeting in the centre located in Al Khawaneej, in the presence of the Board of Directors and the team. He was briefed on MBRSC’s projects, programs and future plans, in particular the “Hope” Probe mission to Mars. Sheikh Hamdan has directed the centre to ISSUE 02

Under the leadership of His Highness Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE will be a pioneer in the Arab region in the space field. work on a 15-year strategy based on the development of knowledge, human resources,

the improvement of scientific and technological innovation, the development of the centre’s satellite systems, and the expansion of all space exploration programs. The strategy encompasses all space projects and programs to be developed by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, in line with the UAE and His Highness Sheik Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision for the country to become among the leading nations in the field of space by 2021.

In the conversation with MBRSC officials

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UAE Space News

constructed to be the infrastructure for the manufacture of satellites in the UAE.

“Our task is to transfer and localise space science knowledge, and build Emirati generations that have the courage to compete with the major nations.”

Sheikh Hamdan was briefed about the KhalifaSat project, and visited the ground station to monitor and follow up on the DubaiSat-1 and DubaiSat-2 missions, which revolve around data review and exchange, as well as satellite image analysis. The missions also aim to provide satellite imagery services and serve environmental and development projects, urban planning, infrastructure and applied scientific research in the UAE.

Hamdan bin Mohammed signing his lab overalls

After the tour, His Excellency Hamad Obaid Al Mansouri, Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, said: “We take pride in the appointment of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum as Chairman and General Supervisor of all projects at the centre and its strategic and development plans. “We are confident that the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, along with the wise guidance and vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, in the space sector will lead us to accomplish greater things in space science and research to serve the ambitious aspirations of establishing a national economy based on knowledge and innovation, in line with the UAE Vision 2021 and the National Innovation Strategy.”

Observing the scientists at work in the MBRSC labs

Hamdan bin Mohammed signs the decree

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He added: “The centre will provide all the initiatives, projects and programs that will enhance the competitive component of the space sector in the UAE, thus positioning Dubai as a leading global hub for the science and space industry. The centre will also continue to work on its knowledge transfer strategy through strategic partnerships, as well as scientific and academic alliances that open up promising opportunities to strengthen local research capabilities, all of which form a quality addition to the scientific, academic and research community in the space sector.” Al Mansouri concluded by saying: “The UAE has taken large and steady steps in the space, technology and satellite manufacturing sectors. The development of a highly efficient national nucleus of effort is at the core of building a sustainable future for the space sector, not only to serve all development projects in the UAE, but also to enrich human knowledge around the world.”

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UAE Space News For his part, Yousef Al Shaibani, General Director of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre explained that the plan directed by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed is of vital importance to improve innovation in the work the centre carries out, and to make Emirati dreams come true through the knowledge gained from now until 2021, and then 2030.

Learning some of the technical procedures in the labs

He also shed light on the visit of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed to the centre, and the meetings that were held during which HH was accurately briefed about the details of the different projects MBRSC is involved in. At the end of the meeting, HH directed the centre to adopt creativity and innovation in its long-term strategic planning, which reflects the successful approach of the UAE leadership as it strives to provide all the success requirements of its vision. Al Shaibani added that “All the employees and teams at MBRSC were heartened by the visit of His Highness the Chairman of the centre, and the direct meetings with him. His visit motivated us to continue our journey in the pursuit of success and achievements until we position the UAE among the most developed countries in the field of space and advanced technology.”

Meeting the team at MBRSC

Hamad Obaid Al Mansouri, Chairman of the Board of Directors at MBRSC:

MBRSC will play a leading role in the UAE’s journey towards future success In an interview with Majarat, His Excellency Hamad Al Mansouri sheds light on the strategic paths for MBRSC after the affiliation of the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) with the centre.

His Excellency Hamad Obaid Al Mansouri leads the general policies and strategies of MBRSC, through his position as the Chairman of Board of Directors. He also plays a key role in several national initiatives such as the smart government, assuming the position of Director General of the General Authority for Regulating the Telecommunications Sector. Majarat: What is the mission and role of MBRSC in terms of making a positive change locally and regionally in the coming period? Hamad Al Mansouri: “The centre works towards supporting and fulfilling government directives in the space sector, as well as establishing an integrated infrastructure for satellite manufacturing within the UAE. The centre is also responsible for overseeing the design, manufacture and launch of the Hope probe. The centre’s mission is to establish a local scientific and technological renaissance in the UAE and the Arab world, and to develop human knowledge in science and scientific discoveries.” Majarat: What have been the centre’s achievements during its first ten years? Hamad Al Mansouri: “MBRSC has achieved success in all the tasks entrusted to it, such as the designing, building and launching of two satellites that provide imagery to so many global institutions. The centre offers many services for a wide segment of customers, and recently we finished building the initial scientific laboratories in accordance with the highest international standards, which our engineers use in the completion of all scientific projects.

Group photo with the new chairman

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“Our teams are currently working on the

Hope probe project under the supervision of the UAE Space Agency. Choosing the centre to perform such a leading role reflects our leaders’ confidence in the team, and we will do our best to prove ourselves worthy of this responsibility, especially since this task was assigned to MBRSC based on its broad expertise and knowledge, as well as the success the centre has achieved in the previous space projects.”

Majarat: As Chairman of MBRSC, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan directed the centre to develop a strategic plan, what is the centre’s strategic plan for the next decade? Hamad Al Mansouri: “Currently, we are studying a number of scientific projects targeted at enabling us to establish an infrastructure for a knowledge-based economy and advanced science. This stage

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UAE Space News will be formulated by 100% Emirati minds, thus contributing to enhancing knowledge and innovation, as well placing the UAE among the leading developed countries in the space field. “According to the strategic plan, which is still under development, the centre will be responsible for promoting innovation in space science and launching scientific and educational programs in collaboration with specialised international entities. The centre will also fund research and innovation projects related to space. “MBRSC will serve vital development sectors in the country through utilising the best international practices and applications in advanced space technologies. In order to accomplish its objectives, the centre will have the right to establish new technological companies, invest in satellite projects, launch space projects and fund space-related research and activities. It will coordinate with the government, regional and global bodies and hold specialised conferences, as well as develop regional and global networks in the field of science and the applications of space technology.” Majarat: Do you think the UAE is ready to enter the global space exploration race? Are the Arab scientific teams capable of competing with countries that have accumulated a wealth of knowledge and scientific discoveries over the years? Hamad Al Mansouri: “Our wise leadership has identified the means to do this, which is to develop national organisations of qualified Emirati scientific teams and engineers who will design and build the probe and monitor its journey. The probe is scheduled to be launched in 2021, in time for the UAE’s Golden Jubilee, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the formulation of the nation. “The journey into space is not an easy task; it’s a mission fraught with epic challenges, but these challenges, as His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said, inspire us and motivate us. We are fully aware that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and the Hope probe is our first step towards entering the global race to explore Mars. “His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid ISSUE 02

UAE Space News said, “Arab people can contribute to humanity through great achievements, given the right circumstances and ingredients. Our region is a region of civilisation. Our destiny is, once again, to explore, to create, to build and to civilise.” “At the centre we seek to build a national research base, and develop specialised teams through transferring knowledge from international partners. We did this when building DubaiSat-1 and DubaiSat-2, and we will do the same for the Hope probe. The aim is to build a scientific base and to develop the UAE space sector to become a strategic sector in the national economy, thus contributing to the development of other sectors.”

We develop an integrated vision for distinguished and unique projects to strengthen the role of space science and research in the national economy. Majarat: What is the scientific payoff of space science with regard to the social and economic development? Hamad Al Mansouri: “Space science is not a scientific luxury driven by curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. Space inventions have always inspired humanity, and provided it with a lot of inventions and innovations that became part of our daily lives. The UAE space programs constitute a quantum leap in building an economy that is based on knowledge and innovation, and they consist of developmental and educational objectives. Space science is an important part of all our economic development projects, and it plays a major role in raising the production levels and standards in manufacturing countries as they adopt the highest and most accurate production standards. Space science also encourages institutions and the educational system to direct their educational process and social development towards innovation and creativity.” Majarat: What is your role in the smart government initiative, and what are the

challenges you face in order to provide hightech smart government services in the light of the initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum? Hamad Al Mansouri: “His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has set the ultimate objective of developing a smart government. The transition for residents will be from a satisfied customer to a happy one, through a creative government that provides services which exceed their expectations. His Highness said: “Today, we want to take government service centres to clients who can submit their applications through a mobile phone or any other mobile device from any place without waiting. A successful government is one which goes to clients wherever they are and doesn’t wait for them to come to it.” He added: “Our ambition in the short term is to link smart services federally and locally and to provide a single-window system to the customer wherever he is and whatever the service is, as the customer is looking to us as one state and one integrated work environment.” “In this context and in order to achieve the vision of His Highness within the specified time frame, Dubai Smart Government, in cooperation with the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and federal and local authorities, formed a national work team concerned with moving towards achieving those objectives.” Majarat: What are the steps you have taken regarding the smart government to link government services federally and locally? Hamad Al Mansouri: “First we analysed and studied the behaviour of a smart customer, and drafted a clearly defined two-year roadmap including the transition path from e-government to smart government. We also developed the Electronic Federal Network, which is the infrastructure that links between various government departments and entities locally and federally. “We have also developed an electronic/smart platform to assess the federal authorities’ progress in the application of smart government enablers, as well as the Centre of Digital Creativity of the UAE smart government to be an integrated platform, offering a range of services and solutions related to overseeing the training of government employees.

Sheikh Mohammed announcing the establishment of the Smart Government two years ago. “In addition to that, we provide consulting services through a specialised team with extensive experience in this area, and we have implemented a smart government training program aimed at strengthening the smart government culture and improving competencies and capabilities in this vital area. This program is not limited to government employees, but also IT students and job seekers can benefit from it, through involving them remotely in training courses. “Furthermore, we have developed the smart application lab that offers an integrated platform through which various tests for the verification of security and quality standards of mobile applications are performed for local and federal government and academic entities. After completion of all tests, the applications are then displayed on the official UAE Government App Store, which is available

on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

cooperative work teams.

“Thus, the UAE government launched the world’s first store for smart government applications on various platforms. The store features over 100 smart applications developed by the UAE local and federal agencies.”

“The human resources policy at the centre helps employees achieve a work-life balance and provides them with career advancement opportunities. For my part, I believe that continuous training and education, and the transfer of knowledge to work teams are the best ways to maximise employees’ capabilities and develop their skills, thus preparing them to take on new responsibilities.

Majarat: How do you develop and motivate work teams? What are the aspects you focus on to improve the performance and to transform a vision into reality? Hamad Al Mansouri: “We perform our tasks in line with the quality and excellence standards adopted by our wise leadership. We focus on planning, promoting a sense of belonging and creating a work environment that encourages creativity and innovation, as well as strengthening the relationship between employees to build harmonious and

“Consequently, we can develop work teams according to the highest scientific standards, through continuous follow-up. We want to enter a new phase of development depending on a knowledge-based economy, and this can be achieved through intellectual capital. Our technical and administrative organisations have proved that they are capable of achieving highest levels of excellence and success…”

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UAE Space News

UAE Space News with the scientific objectives of the project. When we developed the initial design of the Hope probe, we took into consideration these scientific goals. Our team of scientists, engineers and technicians joined hands to design the probe, which will be equipped with smart devices capable of accurate data collection. We ran a number of brainstorming sessions between the Hope probe team and our strategic partners, which resulted in the initial design of the Hope probe.” Majarat: MBRSC has announced that at least 150 Emirati engineers are needed for the Hope Probe project. How do you plan to find the UAE scientific teams required?

Emirates Mars Mission Project Manager, Omran Sharaf:

MBRSC offers the best career opportunities for Emirati innovators Omran Sharaf shares with us some interesting information about the MBRSC Mars Hope Probe, and the opportunities that have arisen because of the project.

Majarat: At MBRSC, you announced that the objective of the project is to study the climate conditions on the Red Planet. How was this objective identified, and why? Sharaf: “The scientific objectives of the UAE’s Mars mission project were identified based on studies and research carried out by the centre in collaboration with our strategic partners. It’s also based on recommendations from the global scientific community, including MEPAG (Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group), which is specialised in the analysis of Mars exploration programs. “Usually, scientific institutions and research centres suggest what they think would be a scientific benefit that serves humanity in general, fills a void in terms of information

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The Mars exploration project embodies educational objectives, and I encourage Emirati students to major in scientific disciplines and compliments other global efforts in the exploration of outer space. The UAE’s scientific contribution in this field aims to conduct a comprehensive and detailed study of the climate on the Red Planet. This study will be the first of its kind and will result in more than 1,000 gigabytes of Mars data that will be shared with research centres and institutions worldwide.”

Majarat: Are there any other objectives for the UAE Mars mission? Sharaf: “All space exploration projects have parallel objectives that are just as important as the scientific objectives. We have educational objectives targeted at school and college students, and all members of society through the production and localisation of knowledge. The project will also encourage research and innovation related to space discoveries, inventions and science. We hope to encourage new generations to take an interest in scientific disciplines as a result of the Mars project.” Majarat: How did you develop the initial design of the Hope probe? Sharaf: “The spacecraft design must comply

Sharaf: “It is true that we will find ourselves in the position of needing more scientific teams, engineers and technicians as the project progresses. Therefore, I encourage Emirati students who have a passion for science and technology to major in subjects such as physics, mathematics, mechanical and electrical engineering, chemistry, software, computer science, and other scientific disciplines. Employment opportunities are now available at MBRSC for talented Emiratis with distinctive, creative and innovative minds. “This project aims to transfer, localise and develop space science knowledge. We have an agreement with our partners on that. The experience that the team has gathered from the manufacturing process performed on both DubaiSat-1 and DubaiSat-2 will form the basis of a strong foundation for us to be able to build the Hope Probe and deliver the project within the proposed timeframe, Insha’ Allah.”

project. We are proud of our students who graduated from Emirati universities, and they all have high scientific and academic standards. Our universities have proven their capabilities in meeting the need of technical sectors that are more scientifically specialised. MBRSC will employ the best Emirati science and research talent in various disciplines, as well as the most qualified technical teams.” Majarat: The Emirates Mars project was assigned to MBRSC by the country’s leadership, what do you feel about this ambitious mission and the challenges that you face? Has your lifestyle been affected by the responsibility of this mission? Sharaf: “The declaration of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan (may God protect him) to establish the UAE Space Agency and the Mars mission project marked the UAE’s entry into the space age. The objective is to boost development and develop scientific capabilities, as well as to provide knowledge contributions to mankind. “Epic challenges inspire us and motivate us.” This is the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid; a vision that carved the path towards a bright future, and we are working passionately and enthusiastically around the clock to accomplish this vision. Experiences in the UAE have taught us that the road towards achieving progress and development is filled with challenges. But at the same time, it’s

promising and prosperous and will certainly contribute to shaping the future of our country. We are proud and happy because the leadership trusted us with such a mission. “The team is working continuously to make this project happen, and we realise the big responsibilty that we have taken on here. We look to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid as a source of inspiration to us, and he has always given his continuous support to the centre in all the projects we have undertaken. We are committed to participating fully in making his vision come to light. “This project has become a major part of all our lives. The team members travel in consecutive trips based on a drawn plan, to meet with partners and inform scientific research centres in a number of leading universities about our project, to hopefully coordinate with them. ” Majarat: Could you tell us about your education and the experience you have gained at MBRSC? Sharaf: “I joined MBRSC in 2006 and was a member of the team that developed DubaiSat-1, DubaiSat-2 and KhalifaSat. I graduated from the University of Virginia in the United States with a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. During my participation in developing DubaiSat-2 in 2013, I earned my Master’s degree in science and technology policies from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology in South Korea.”

Majarat: Is it mandatory that Emirati engineers applying to work on the Hope probe mission hold degrees from scientifically advanced foreign countries, to ensure that they have a high level scientific education? Sharaf: “No! More than 95% of MBRSC’s employees are graduates from UAE universities, and a large number are currently developing their academic and scientific programs in a way to meet the needs of strategic projects, especially the Emirates Mars project. UAE universities continue to graduate scientifically qualified engineers, technicians and administrators with the necessary skills required to work on the UAE Mars mission

Members of the Hope Probe team at work

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NASA discovers new Earth

DISCOVER International Space News

The Kepler mission, a space observatory launched into orbit by NASA in 2009, has discovered the first Earth-like planet that exists within a “habitable zone”, meaning life could well exist upon it.

takes just 5% longer than we do to completely orbit our sun, which can be calculated, as it’s 5% farther from its sun than us. John Grusfeld, as administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate had this to say on the historic confirmation: “On the 20th anniversary year of the discovery that proved other suns host planets, the Kepler exoplanet explorer has discovered a planet and star which most closely resemble the Earth and our Sun, this exciting result brings us one step closer to finding an Earth 2.0.” While its mass and composition are not yet confirmed, a planet this size would usually be found to be rocky on the surface. Should all the elements exists to make life a possibility, it would seem very likely that, given the extra 1.5 billion years Kepler-452b has on us, life would potentially be at a far more advanced stage than we find ourselves at. The balance for life to exist is multifarious and very fragile, but Kepler-452b looks to be not only the best candidate for life we have ever found, but in

actual fact, all the evidence gathered thus far seems to make the existence of some kind of life form as much of a certainty as it possibly could be, considering it is located 1,400 lightyears away.

On the 20th anniversary year of the discovery that proved other suns host planets, the Kepler exoplanet explorer has produced an exciting result that brings us one step closer to finding an Earth 2.0.

And therein lies the problem. In all likelihood the human race will never, ever make it to Kepler-452b. The very idea of the planet lying 1,400 light years away may be difficult to comprehend, but to put it into context, light travels at 186,000 miles per second, which is 5,865,696,000,000 miles in a year. Multiply this by 1,400, and the numbers become far more confusing. But with current technology, it would take roughly 33,000 years for us to reach Kepler452b. Perhaps with the additional experience accumulated from the extra 1.5 billion years they’ve been evolving for, the inhabitants of Kepler-452b – if there are any - may well be in a position to be able to get to Earth far sooner than we would to them, but for now, we must just stare at the skies and wonder…

An artist’s impression of Kepler-452b

A milestone has been reached in the human race’s continuing quest to find life on another planet, as NASA has confirmed the discovery of Kepler-452b, a planet estimated to be about 60% larger than Earth, and which takes 385 days to orbit its own Sun – Kepler-452. “Earths cousin”, as Kepler-452b has been labelled, is part of the Kepler-452 system, ISSUE 02

and was confirmed by a ground observation team as a planet at the same time 11 other potential planets were added to the list of small habitable zone candidate planets, which now features 4,696 planet candidates. There are now 1,030 confirmed planets in existence with the addition of Kepler-452b.

such excitement among scientists on Earth

The newly confirmed planet has caused

is 20% brighter and 10% larger. The planet

because it is in the habitable area of orbit around its star, where liquid water could pool on the surface. Its sun, Kepler-452, is a G2-type star the same as ours, and is estimated to be six billion years old, which is 1.5 billion years older than our sun and it

Kepler-452b comes closest to any planet found so far to matching our Earth-sun system. These are the habitable-zone planets with similarities to Earth: from left, Kepler-22b, Kepler-69c, the just announced Kepler-452b, Kepler-62f and Kepler-186f. Earth is last. ISSUE 02

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The spacecraft then spent nearly nine hours looking back at the planet taking pictures and conducting a series of experiments to study its atmosphere. Pluto was for decades considered to be a barren, icy world, but signs of geological activity are very much apparent in some of the images received so far, and there is also evidence of current activity just under the surface in the form of plate tectonics, or crust movements. Flowing ice and a hazy atmosphere are two of the most surprising and significant discoveries that have come as a result of the flypast, but the

images and data have so far left more questions than answers. It would also appear that a mountain range whose formation dates back only 100 million years, has uncovered a notion once thought impossible for somewhere like Pluto – that geological activity is clearly on-going, but that it’s not as a result of heat created from the gravitational pull of a larger planetary body. Something else is causing Pluto’s surface to change, and we don’t know what. “We knew that a mission to Pluto would bring some surprises, and now 10 days after the closest approach we can say that our expectations have been more than surpassed,”

New Horizons spacecraft 9 years and three billion miles

said John Grunsfeld, NASA’s associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate. “With flowing ices, exotic surface chemistry, mountain ranges, and vast haze, Pluto is showing a diversity of planetary geology that is truly thrilling.” Flowing ice has only ever been found on active surfaces, such as Earth and Mars, so to discover something similar on a surface that is on average -230°C in a world 4.67 billion miles from our own, has been something of a revelation to scientists. As one put it: “We’re going to need some new ideas to figure out what’s going on.”

July 2015: New Horizons passed within 6,000 miles of the frozen dwarf planet

An artist’s impression of New Horizons passing by Pluto

New Horizons, new discoveries

2007-2014: For most of the eight-year trek from Jupiter to Pluto, the craft span slowly in a state of “hibernation”

The New Horizons spacecraft has successfully survived a flypast of former planet Pluto on the very edge of our Solar System, and has sent back the most detailed images of the mysterious dwarf planet we’ve ever seen.

NASA initially launched the New Horizons mission nine years ago now, and its voyage has since carried it more than three billion miles, with speeds reaching in excess of 31,000 miles per hour. The spacecraft lay dormant for much of its journey to the outer reaches of our solar system, until all systems were engaged in preparation for its day of destiny, a close encounter with the most mysterious and unknown former planet in the solar system. Scientists actually know very little about Pluto, a fact demonstrated by its downgrading from a planet to a dwarf planet in 2006. This was due to the discovery that it had not cleared its

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neighbouring region of objects of a similar size during its orbit of the Sun. But our apparent lack of access to in-depth knowledge, in comparison with the eight remaining planets in the solar system, has already changed forever. New Horizons finally made contact with Earth after an agonising 13-hour wait from the time the flypast occurred, sparking rapturous applause and celebrations in the mission control centre at the John Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, outside Baltimore, Maryland, USA. In the lead up to the flypast, during and after

2014: Monitoring began 200 days before the closest approach to Pluto

it, New Horizons transmitted a number of stunning images of Pluto back to Earth, all of which have given scientists a very different understanding of the icy dwarf planet. But as 99% of the data gathered by New Horizons still remained aboard the craft, news that the flypast was successfully traversed brought with it a mixture of relief and delight. It will now take more than 16 months for the thousands of images and measurements taken during the flypast to be transmitted back to Earth. New Horizons came within 7,700 miles of Pluto, and passed at an astonishing 31,000 mph.

Feb- Mar 2007: New Horizons passed Jupiter on Feb. 28, 2007 Jan – Feb 2006: Launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida

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International Space News


Virgin Galactic tragedy blamed on pilot error

NASA will take astronauts to an asteroid

Russian space sureveillance station reaches full capacity

NASA is in the process of developing the Space Launch System (SLS) megarocket, which will take astronauts to Mars and more distant asteroids. The megarocket has a tentative first launch target of sometime in 2018, and will initially take unmanned spacecraft to preagreed targets at far higher speeds than ever managed before.

An official investigation has concluded that the deadly crash of a Virgin Galactic spacecraft in California last year was caused by the co-pilot unlocking the braking system earlier than he should have. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and their investigation team, there were no safeguards in place to be able to guard against this error. The co-pilot died in the accident, while the pilot was severely injured as the spaceship broke apart in the Mojave Desert during the test flight. The co-pilot, named Michael Alsbury, is said to have unlocked the feathering system that slows down the spacecraft descent during re-entry. It was this action which caused the SpaceShipTwo rocket to break up, the NTSB concluded.

Virgin Galactic is owned British billionaire, Sir Richard Branson, and his Virgin Group. They are now building a new spacecraft to replace the 60ft SpaceShipTwo. Virgin Galactic is set to become the first commercial “spaceline”, and despite the tragic circumstances surrounding the death of one and serious injury of another experienced pilot, Branson has vowed to continue with the project. Millionaires and celebrities are among the first passengers to have already booked their “spaceflight” once the Virgin enterprise does in fact launch. Customers have been parting with up to $250,000 for the two or three-hour journey that will take them around 63 miles above the Earth. Branson has also recently expressed his desire to build the first Space Hotel.

With its extra load-bearing capabilities, the SLS will enable deep-space exploration and astronomy by having the capacity to carry larger and heavier telescopes out of the Earth’s atmosphere. NASA representatives claim that SLS could even launch entire space observatories, using the extra 20% of

The Russian Ministry of Defence has announced that Okno-M, a Russian-operated space surveillance system based in Tajikistan, has now reached full capacity, and is performing at a level four times more powerful than it had previously been doing. Okno-M is an optoelectronic system that detects objects in space, and forms an integral part of the Russian network of space surveillance stations. The upgrades will allow Okno-M to automatically collate information on, and monitor space objects at a distance of up to 40,000km.

thrust in comparison with the Saturn V rocket, which carried astronauts towards the moon between 1966 and 1973.

Kimiya Yui becomes the 10th Japanese man in space After a long delay, and much trepidation, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui has finally reached the International Space Station (ISS), along with astronauts from the US and Russia. A Soyuz spacecraft reached the ISS six hours after its launch from Kazakhstan, docking with the station so as Yui, 45, commander Oleg Kononenko, 51, and Kjell Lindgren, 42, could begin their mission. Yui has a long-term stay ahead of him, and will have the task of carrying out a number of experiments aboard the station during his five-month stay. The Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe called Yui a “star of middle-agers” and wished him well on his voyage, while more than 600 people gathered in his hometown of Kawalami to watch a public screening of the launch. The spacecraft was initially scheduled for a launch in May, but was subsequently delayed due to technical investigations relating to a failed launch attempt of a similar rocket the month before. Yui and his colleagues from Russia and the US will be working to collect data that could eventually help a manned flight to Mars become a reality.

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The station is only ever active at night, using sunlight reflected on the objects to gather the information it requires. Okno-M has become fully automated and needs no human intervention to run its systems. Since 1999 the station has detected and measured over 10 million objects in space, monitored 560 spacecraft orbit insertions and recorded foreign spacecraft manoeuvres. The station primarily monitors foreign satellites, and was, during the Cold War years, thought to be a laser powered antimissile station, which it wasn’t.

Europe’s last Meteosat now under EUMETSAT control EUMETSAT has assumed control of the Meteosat Second Generation weather satellite, MSG-4 following its successful launch in mid-July from the European Spaceport in French Guiana. The ESA managed the initial launch and Early Orbit Phase (EOP), but now the satellite is in geostationary orbit, and all components have been tested for functionality, EUMETSAT will now begin commissioning the satellite. The commissioning relates to a twomonth assessment, four months of imaging and product testing, before permanent orbit storage for on-going services. The first images have been beamed back to Earth already from the MSG-4’s SEVIRI imager, and have confirmed that the launch and orbit had no ill-effects on the functionality of the weather satellite. THE ESA is a multi-faceted space agency, operating in the fields of Earth observation, telecommunications, navigations and astronomy, while also contributing and collaborating in human space exploration projects.

China to build the biggest radio telescope in the world

China officials have announced the Chinese space program will begin work on developing and constructing the world’s largest radio telescope. The huge dish will be based in the Guizhou Province, and will give China’s space program access to its own data, independent of any collaboration or reliance on international agencies. Wu Xiangping, Director-general of the Chinese Astronomical Society told the Xinhua news agency that the Chinese reliance on data from other space programs has for a long time impeded the progress of the Chinese space program, progress which will now be able to move forward independently. The dish will have a perimeter of approximately one mile, and will be isolated in a mountainous area of the region, meaning that there will be little or no interference from surrounding towns or cities. The Chinese hope to be able to use the giant radio telescope to search for intelligent life outside the galaxy, while also trying to discover the story behind the origins of the universe. China further cemented its commitment to space exploration by recently announcing its intention to make the first human landing on the far side of the moon by 2020, and has also expressed an interest in collaborating with the global International Space Station programs, a move which has been blocked by the US on the grounds of national security concerns

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Smithsonian raises $550,000 to save Armstrong space suit Time has not been kind to the space suit of Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, in the 46 years following one of the greatest exploits ever carried out by a human. The iconic space suit has slowly deteriorated over the decades, despite being locked away in a climate-controlled storage space. But a campaign launched on the Kickstarter website – the world’s largest funding platform for creative projects – in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institute, has ensured the preservation of this piece of history, and will see it go back on display in the National Air and Space Museum. More than $550,000 has been pledged through the Kickstarter campaign, surpassing the initial target of $500,000, meaning the suit worn on the Apollo 11 mission will be able to inspire a new generation of space enthusiasts, and the generation after that.

European Space Agency pursues the JUICE mission

The disaster came only weeks after SpaceX had secured the certification required for the US government to be able to operate highly complex space launches, the like of which have been earmarked for $25 billion in government spending each year for the next decade. SpaceX had previously been unable

The spacecraft will be manufactured in the French city of Toulouse, with contributions and support provided by other ESA member states such as Japan and the US.

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Telemedicine opens up the world to expert advice and guidance. If no doctor is available onsite, a telemedicine kit has been formulated to help diagnose whether the patient needs a hospital in a big city. This kit includes a computer and satellite phone, as well as an electrocardiogram, a digital camera and a microscope. This can then help forward the relevant information to the nearest hospital who will be able to provide their feedback. All aspects of the new telemedicine application has its roots in space technology, most notably exhibited by the satellite imagery which was essential to the swift aid response used during the African Ebola outbreak. Telemedicine is now to be rolled out across Africa, and is set to revolutionise health care for those in poverty across the world.

New rocket drive could get to the moon in four hours A British-designed rocket, the EM Drive, has been successfully tested and could significantly speed up space travel, scientists have revealed. The rocket is powered by an electromagnetic propulsion drive, which was developed by British inventor Roger Shawyer almost 15 years ago. At that time he was widely discredited and ridiculed as a fantasist by scientists who thought the idea to be “scientifically impossible” and “the stuff of fairy tales”. launched 96 missions in nine years with not a single explosion.

to bid on these projects, but having won the right to, the accident came at a most inopportune time for them. This is further compounded by the fact that their main rival in the marketplace ULA has

Telemedicine has its roots in NASA’s and the Soviet Union’s earliest space programs, as the agencies had no idea exactly how their astronauts/cosmonauts might react to being thrust through the Earth’s atmosphere into a void with no atmosphere at all. But now it has already been implemented in French Guyana, according to the European Space Policy Institute, and is helpful for a variety of cases.

The JUICE mission will be the pièce de résistance of the ESA’s Cosmic Vision 2015-25 program, and after the targeted launch in 2022, is expected to arrive in the Jovian system in 2030. The mission will focus on Jupiter and its magnetic, turbulent atmosphere, while also investigating the moons Ganymede, Europa and Callisto, all of which are thought to be hiding giant oceans beneath their icy exteriors.

The Smithsonian will address the gradual deterioration of the suit, and have extended the funding project with the hope of being able to preserve the space suit worn by the first American in space, Alan Shepard, in 1961.

The SpaceX CRS-7 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in July ended in disaster as the rocket exploded just moments after its launch at Cape Canaveral, destroying 4,000 pounds of supplies and a docking station for ISS in the process.

Telemedicine was initially designed to overcome the distance between astronauts in need of expert medical assistance and the hospitals that lay back on Earth, while they floated through space. But now the telemed movement is finding its place in rural third world areas of the world, where medical experts and first class facilities, are in short supply.

The European Space Agency (ESA) has penned a deal worth $380 million with French company Airbus Defense & Space, in the pursuit of seeing the JUICE (JUpiter ICy moons Explorer) mission to Jupiter and its moons, come to fruition in 2022.

Over 7,000 backers pledged money to cover the costs of preserving Armstrong’s suit, and building a special display case for it. It will now be the main attraction in a special Smithsonian exhibition covering lunar exploration to mark the 50th anniversary of the moon landing in 2019. The typical space suits designed at the time were made primarily to protect astronauts and withstand the rigours of space travel. No attention was paid to the idea of preserving the suits as an artefact 50 years down the line. As such, the delicate polymers used in the suit’s design become unstable and break down as time goes by.

SpaceX gets reprieve

Space telemedicine becomes commonplace on Earth

But in what can only be described as a reprieve, the US Air Force has referred to the CRS-7 explosion as something of an anomaly, and has not reneged on its agreement that SpaceX are certified to be able undertake missions of a far more high-spec nature in the coming years. SpaceX has worked extremely hard, led by Elon Musk, to try to work out what went wrong, and with the resumption of their launch program due this month, they will be hoping that lightning doesn’t strike twice as the spotlight rests firmly upon them.

The EM Drive was designed to produce thrust using solar power. This power would generate, or energise a number of microwaves that move frantically within an enclosed chamber. Theoretically, this means that the rocket could keep on going infinitely, or until something wears down, without the need for rocket fuel. After a round of testing, scientists at NASA have come forward and said that they believe the EM Drive actually works, although they can’t explain why. The drive defies one of the core principles of physics – the conservation of momentum. This fundamental concept states that if something is propelled forward, something must be pushed in the opposite direction. By this principle, the forces at work in the chamber should, by all accounts, cancel each other out.

But just this week, Professor Martin Tajmar, Chair for Space Systems at the Dresden University of Technology in Germany, was able to show that the EM Drive does indeed produce thrust. “Our test campaign cannot confirm or refute the claims of the EM Drive but intends to independently assess possible side effects in the measurement methods used so far,” the Professor announced. “Nevertheless, we do observe thrust close to the actual predictions after eliminating many

possible error sources that should warrant further investigation into the phenomena. Our measurements reveal thrusts as expected from previous claims, after carefully studying thermal and electromagnetic interferences. If true, this could certainly revolutionise space travel.” The drive can produce a thrust several thousand times more powerful than that of a standard photon rocket, and would be able to reach the moon in four hours, Mars in 70 days, and Pluto in 18 months.

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Celebrating Human Endeavour


“How to succeed? Have a passion to seek to understand the world around you” Majarat speaks to one of the Arab world’s most revered Professors, Noureddine Melikechi, on space, Mars, the UAE and his ground-breaking work in Optical Science.

When it comes to the planet Mars, there aren’t many as insightful and engaging in their passion and knowledge of the subject as Professor Melikechi, but he wasn’t always destined to work on projects as fascinating as space exploration. Born and raised in a small town in Algeria, the largest country in the Arab world, there was very little in terms of an organised, government-funded education system. Instead, knowledge acquirement relied on the community pulling together to educate their young. “My interest in space exploration came relatively late in my life,” he tells us.

“Although my beautiful little town had at that time no high school, it had an awesome community committed to education. I was very interested in mathematics, physics, and biology and had the pleasure and privilege of having some of the best teachers one can ever hope for. This enhanced my love for learning.” After leaving Algeria to study a Masters and PHD in the seaside city of Brighton, England, and then working in a laboratory at the North-

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become a significant actor in space science and technology, including navigation and exploration. “In my view, countries that adopt similar approaches and work to identify areas of science and technology will have a greater chance of developing their economies. If science exploration is within their means, and they wish to contribute to space science, I think they will find it rewarding because space science inspires and excites people.” While some still see the quest for new technology and new achievements in space as a competition in the mould of the US/ Russian Cold War-influenced space race, Professor Melikechi sees that ideology as really rather outdated now. “I do not see current or new players in the space science area as challengers but rather as new partners for global collaboration. I hope that with time, we will see other countries, such as the UAE, partner with each other and the United States to use space to solve global issues such as monitoring the health of our

Professor Noureddine Melikechi is part of the team working on NASA’s next mission to Mars, which is set to be launched in 2020. He is also a professor of physics, and is the Dean of the College of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology at the University of Delaware in the United States.

“As with many children, I looked at the sky and wanted to know and understand what was there. Was anyone there? However, I did not have the opportunity to explore these questions to the depth required, as I grew up in a town that had very little to offer in terms of space science.

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planet and its surroundings. “Space exploration has the potential to help us better understand the world that we live in and ultimately ourselves. In addition, programs in space science and technology can inspire new generations and can create opportunities and an environment for the development of new technologies. These programs require a multidisciplinary approach that brings together scientists and engineers from many fields. They contribute to the convergence of seemingly disjointed scientific and technological disciplines, which in turn can help solve big scientific and technological problems that can benefit societies.”

Space exploration has the potential to help us better understand the world that we live in and ultimately ourselves.

When it comes to the next NASA mission to Mars in 2020, Professor Melikechi has been assigned to the team responsible for the SuperCam, a remote sensor capable of identifying the composition of a subject from up to 20 feet away, using laser technology. This creation will form a critical element of the next generation Mars rover. So what next for the Professor? Firstly a trip to a Mars Summit in France where he will be discussing with the world’s foremost space scientists, a number of topics relating to the Red Planet. “I will be attending three sessions of the summit,” he tells us, “one will be dedicated to the Mars Science Laboratory in which updates and discussions on the mission and the Curiosity rover will take place. These are essential and productive because we have a chance to hear and discuss many aspects of the mission. This is a very important meeting because it provides not only updates but also an opportunity to learn and contribute to the Mars Science Laboratory project face-to-face.

The Curiosity Rover exploring Mars

I looked at the sky and wanted to know and understand what was there… East London Polytechnic, Professor Melikechi returned to his homeland to complete his National Service in 1988. After teaching at Bab Ezzouar University for a period, in 1990 he emigrated from Algeria to begin a career in the United States, where his voyage of space research and discovery began. “My scientific journey brought me naturally to explore questions that were very closely related to space,” he reflects.

Professor Melikechi’s journey finished in the country at the forefront of the space sector, the United States, where he plays an integral role in NASA’s on-going research missions to Mars. The Professor is quick to offer up praise for the way America has embraced space science, and he believes other developing countries should do the same. “The United States has acquired tremendous knowledge and capabilities in space exploration. A few decades ago, the US decided that it was important to inspire its youth, educate and encourage them to learn about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. “It invested energy and funds into education, research and big science, which led it to ISSUE 02

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“A second session will be focused on the results and operations of one of the ten instruments on board the Mars Curiosity rover: the Chemistry Camera. Finally and looking further into the future, we will be meeting about aspects of the Mars 2020 mission and more specifically one of the instruments I am working on for the mission: the SuperCam.” Although the Professor is kept busy with his work on Mars missions and space exploration, let us not forget that he also works on scientific research within his own lab in Delaware for the potential benefit of all of us. “I am currently pursuing a research program aimed at developing new and sensitive optical techniques, as well as powerful mathematical tools that can be used for the early detection of cancers,” he explains.

interest the progress and ambition the UAE has demonstrated in the space science and technology sector. “I am delighted to know that the UAE has decided to take a giant step and engage in big science, discovery, and space exploration,” he notes, with a sense of discernible pride.

The Curiosity Rover fires a laser beam on Mars

Follow your passion, you can always impact positively your family, your neighbour, your community, your country, your region, and the world at large.

“Essentially, in my laboratory we have developed a new approach based on tagging specific proteins (antibodies) with a nano or microparticle, and we then use lasers to identify the particle in biomedical fluids. The particle is detected if a cancer antigen binds to the antibody. Using this approach, we have obtained promising results so far, and we are moving to the next level of research: detecting multi-cancer biomarkers simultaneously. This technique has shown tremendous potential and we hope that it can help us identify and diagnose the presence of cancers at very early stages. This work brings together laser spectroscopy, nano-chemistry, and cancer diagnosis and has the potential to impact on disease prevention.”

community, your country, your region, and the world at large.

The Professor is of course very highly regarded in his field, but he is also extremely accommodating, down-to-earth and keen to share his expertise with anybody that shows an interest in his passion. For young Arabs hoping to emulate one of the outstanding scientists from the Arab world, he has the following words of encouragement: “Young Arabs are no different than young people from anywhere around the world except in the environment each faces everyday. For one person, life is such that information and knowledge is available by a simple click, while for another person obstacles are such that even dreaming about a preferred future becomes a challenge. Irrespective of one’s situation, my advice to you, the young Arab, is to believe in yourself, to follow your passion, and know that you can always impact positively your family, your neighbour, your

“If science and technology are part of your passion, then work hard to master as much mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology as you possibly can. Realise that you are not alone and that people learn from one another. Develop and sustain learning networks, seek mentors who believe in you and are prepared to share with you their experiences and knowledge, and to help you achieve your dreams. This will help you learn to ask wellformulated questions, which are an essential and critical trait of a successful scientist.”

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“Whether space exploration or other scientific endeavours are of interest to you or not, you will need to build a foundation on which you can discover your passion, and grow in you whatever excites you. This foundation must include continuous and dedicated commitment to learning, and a passion to seek to understand the world around you. Is it hard to achieve this? It is not, provided that passion exists. If this is the case, what may be perceived as hardship actually becomes fun.

News of the UAE’s Hope Probe Mission to Mars has been broadcast across the world, and Professor Melikechi has noted with great

In the memory of Abdul Kalam, India’s former President and greatest rocket scientist

“This is a major and tremendous initiative for many reasons and if you allow me, I will cite a few. First, this is a clear sign that in the region, the desire to discover new scientific knowledge is strong. It is wonderful that despite all the troubles and all the difficulties that the region is facing, “Hope” exists. It reminds us that one should never give up hope. “Second, “Hope” is very likely to inspire young people of the region to dream big, to be engaged in science and technology, and for some of them to become great scientists, engineers and innovators. “Hope” can become the symbol for the engagement of the Arab youth in a beautiful, scientific journey. “Third, this initiative is very likely to yield key scientific and technological advances and will also help enhance our understanding of Earth and possibly the region itself. Often by exploring major scientific questions, we acquire knowledge that can be used to solve problems that seem far removed from the initial goal of the investigation. “Hope” can be a new bridge that connects the present to a better future for the UAE, its people, its region, and the world. It can trigger the scientific and technological rebirth of a region that has given so much to the world in terms of discovery and innovations in the past.” And so it is on the subject of Arab space exploration, and the desire for knowledge in the region, that we leave the Professor, and thank him for his time, thoughts and contribution to Majarat. “I am honoured and feel privileged to share with your readers my thoughts and am eager to learn more about the UAE’s “Hope” mission to Mars. It takes courage to launch such a mission. I am confident that history will show that this could be the beginning of a new era for young Arabs filled with the joy of creating new knowledge like our ancestors did a few centuries ago. I wish “Hope” much success…”

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam has sadly passed away after suffering an apparent cardiac arrest during a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management in Shilong, aged 83. The 11th president of India, Kalam was immensely popular both nationally and internationally, and used his presidential role to reach out to the people in a manner that no other Indian politician had done before, or has done since. A middle-class icon, Kalam’s popularity transcended the usual class barriers seen across India. The depth of his support, and the fact he was the only politician to be cited by young scholars and students as their role model, was a cause of deep resentment for other political figures at the time, knowing that they would never have such a connection with the people of their country.

Kalam described himself as a scientist, teacher, learner and writer, and his career path led him from very humble beginnings to become a member of the Indian space program. He was part of the team that built India’s satellite and missile programme, and successfully developed indigenous satellite launch vehicles as a contribution. Having left the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 1982, he became the Director of the Defence Research and Development Laboratory, and under his supervision, India completed a number of short and medium-range ballistic missile tests. His commitment and flair for innovative thinking, as well as his demands for perfection and funding for the projects, led him to become one of the most influential and respected scientists in the country by the end

of the decade, and having taken charge of the Indian nuclear tests at Pokhran in 1998, he suddenly found himself thrust into the realms of the media spotlight. National popularity ensued, helped by his distinctive silver hair, brushed long and styled in a centre parting. He looked like no other scientist anyone had ever seen, and enjoyed the level of celebrity status which would eventually see him become India’s president in 2002. After a successful first-term, Kalam declined the requests of India’s people to run for a second in 2007 aged 75, and instead revisited his first love – teaching and mentoring the young talent of the country. He travelled across India, lecturing students at various academic institutions, and fittingly, that was how he passed.

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NASA trip inspires Emiratis to pursue a career in space

interest and passion in the field of space science and technology, and the ability to be productive and creative were shortlisted to make the aweinspiring journey. She also pointed out that the program included detailed information on the latest materials, equipment, technologies and projects the scientists at NASA are working on.

Interviews conducted by Zeina Ahmed. As part of the UAE leadership’s vision to prepare the next generation of space science professionals, 200 Emirati students were taken on an inspiring scientific trip to NASA. Emirati students work as a team to create a rover

Under the Unlimited Ambition Program, supported by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) and other UAE entities, 200 promising Emirati students were given the opportunity to visit NASA to learn about space science. They were sent in five separate groups across the space of a year, with the final group to go to the space agency headquarters being 21 female students from the Applied Technology High School in Abu Dhabi.

as students paid a visit to the headquarters of both the technological and technical research institutes in South Korea, with the aim of developing future national working teams specialised in space science and advanced technology.

This trip followed a previous successful venture

“A while ago, we signed an agreement with

Majarat talks to Rachida Nashef, Director of the Applied Technology and Technical High Schools, about the scientific objectives of the program.

the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre to sponsor the space science studies of some of our students. The aim is to motivate students and build their self-confidence, to provide academic and training programs according to international standards and to encourage them to study space science according to the vision and strategy of the UAE.” She added that only the brightest students are selected to go on the scientific trips she organises. Those displaying commitment,

Trip supervisor and maths teacher, Mona Al Sheikh, added that “the trip to NASA was a unique exploration opportunity for our female students who want to study engineering and science, as it allowed them to experience practical thinking.”

Mona Al Sheikh pointed out that since the announcement of the Hope probe mission, many curricula have been introduced relating to space science, engineering and advanced science, to build a specialised scientific national base of experts in this field. “The objective is to prepare Applied Technology and Technical High School graduates to study space science in Khalifa University,” she added.

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a great opportunity for them as students, as it allowed them to visit such important sites that are not usually open to the public. They had the chance to access the ground station and learn how to communicate with astronauts on their space journeys. They also learned about the methods engineers use in manufacturing space suits and other astronauts’ equipment. Sheikha said that she’s “Eager to learn more about everything related to space, planets and galaxies.”

Director Nashef explained: “We always look for the appropriate training and learning opportunities for our students, so they may gain both knowledge and experience. Last year (2014), we organised a visit to advanced scientific, research and industrial institutions in South Korea, and we will shortly be organising a visit to Oxford University.” According to Nashef, this plan is in line with the UAE’s strategy to send the Hope probe mission to Mars by 2021, the year of innovation initiative, and the UAE’s efforts oriented towards building a knowledgebased economy. “We are always proactive in this domain,” she points out.

During the trip, which lasted two weeks, the students had the opportunity to learn about the space equipment industry and the manufacturing process, which costs millions and often takes years.

A photo opportunity at NASA HQ

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Another inspired space enthusiast, Shamma Al Mujeini, said that she was “Astonished by the scientific progress achieved by NASA,” and that she “Never expected the facility to be so spacious. NASA includes advanced science facilities, rooms for video games, shopping stores and entertainment clubs. We moved from one location to another by train; and on one of the tours, we had the opportunity to see a space rocket that was still under manufacture.”

The rover works, teamwork works this scientifically impressive place, we learnt about Robonauts that are sent into space. We saw images of the Earth taken from outer space and we saw samples of the soil of some planets. While we were there, our group was proposed the idea of building a Robonaut to be sent into space. It took us the whole day to build the model.” Moza added: “We were 21 students, and we were divided into five groups, which created a kind of friendly competition between us. It was very inspiring and so interesting.” Moza is one of many students for whom this trip motivated and inspired the decision to study and pursue space science.

A group of students have shared with us their experiences during the visit to NASA, with one of them, Zainab Rashid, telling us: “It was a new and innovative idea, and in line with the UAE’s space science vision. We met many astronauts, and one of them accompanied us on our tours, and told us about the details of his journey and his experiences. I was motivated and wished I could complete my studies in space science, and go back to NASA to gain more knowledge and practical experience.”

Alia Al Shamsi, who also participated in the NASA visit, said: “During this trip, we saw the astronauts’ preparation process prior to their space mission journeys. We learned how they buy the equipment, and negotiate costs with the suppliers.” She added that, along with her colleagues, she learned a lot from the trip, such as the fact they train astronauts in a huge swimming pool months before finally travelling to space. Alia said that her dream is to “Return to NASA and continue her study of space science.”

Fellow student, Moza Al Zaabi, said: “Here, in

According to Sheikha Mohammed, this trip was

Shamma talked about her dream of becoming the first Emirati to fly into space and said that she is very keen to study space science. Dr. Abdullatif Al Shamsi, Director General of the Institute of Applied Technology, stated that: “Taking the students’ delegation programs to NASA, home to brilliant scientists, engineers and innovators, offers a highly valuable experience to the students. These programs raise student interest in specialising in careers related to space science and technology, satellites, electronics, physics and astronomy, which is in line with the UAE’s strategic plan to enter the space field.” Dr. Al Shamsi explained that “The establishment of the UAE Space Agency and Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, as well as the investment in the satellite sector, plus the launch of the “Hope” probe mission to Mars, will lead to a technological and technical development that will constitute a new phase in the advancement of the UAE in a vital field. This will contribute to the development of advanced scientific research, aerospace industries and associated technologies, thus directing the education to the adoption of a new sector that enhances knowledge economy.” After their trip to NASA in Houston, some of the students have already joined Khalifa University to study space science, while others joined international universities to study this significant major.

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The 10 most iconic images from human space endeavour Man has been travelling to and from space for 56 years now, and in that time, we have seen images that portray triumph, potential, tragedy, challenges, achievements and the sheer scale of whatever is out there. Let’s celebrate human endeavour with a look at 10 of the most iconic images from the space story so far. Dubai from above The instantly recognisable Dubai shoreline, captured from DubaiSat-2, currently in orbit above the Earth. The detail within this image is not only a demonstration of the capability of the Emirati-built satellite, but serves as a reminder of the transformation witnessed in Dubai itself, and some of the most extraordinary construction projects ever undertaken by man. You can see the man-made perfection of the Palm Jumeirah as its stretches out into the sea.

Silhouette in space This beautiful image exhibits a unique view of the Space Shuttle Endeavour, apparently in limbo between the Earth’s atmosphere and space, and with a beautiful sunset occurring on the horizon. So many different elements had to come together at this precise moment to provide a picture that encapsulates much of what man has thus far achieved in space.

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The Earth This wasn’t the first picture of the Earth taken by a human from outer space, but it was the first to really catch the essence of how isolated we are. It seems strange now to think that just 55 years ago, humans really had no idea what the world looked like from above. Of course, we eventually worked out we lived on a round planet, not a flat one, but the stunning visual feast our beautiful planet serves up could never have been realised until 1965, although this image was taken aboard Apollo 17 in 1972, and was the first to really capture the imagination of the entire human race.

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Man on the moon

An image that serves as a constant reminder of the perils of space exploration, and the challenges that must constantly be overcome. This launch of NASA’s Challenger Space Shuttle was watched around the world by millions, and was to be its 10th mission. In previous missions it had carried the first US woman to space, and was used in 85% of all NASA space flights between 1983 and 1985. Sadly, just 73 seconds into its 10th mission, the Shuttle exploded killing all seven crew members. A tragic event that led to the grounding of all US space flights for over two and a half years.

This iconic picture of Buzz Aldrin was taken by Neil Armstrong, as the pair took their first steps on the Moon. This image has been replicated and published millions of times the world over, and is quite simply one of those instantly recognisable pictures whose legacy will be everlasting. Legendary American pop-artist, Andy Warhol, put his inimitable imprint onto this picture to further propel it to the status it now enjoys.

The white sun Viewing the sun from space takes on an air of surrealism. When in view on Earth, the sun is usually surrounded by beautiful blue skies. In space, it’s a huge light engulfed by a pitch-black void. The emptiness of space has never been more poignantly captured than in this photo taken from the International Space Station.

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INSPIRE Celebrating Human Endeavour

Alone in space This iconic image captures NASA Astronaut Bruce McCandles as he makes the first ever untethered space walk. Using just a jet pack to navigate his way in space, McCandles looks very isolated, and is displaying the kind of bravery and courage associated with all those who have helped push the human race to new frontiers in outer space.

India launches the SLV-3 It was in July 1980 that India became the sixth nation to become “spacefaring”. This successful launch project paved the way for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to launch countless satellites throughout the last 35 years, including the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), which is currently in orbit around the Red Planet. With MOM, India became the first country to succeed with a mission to Mars at the first attempt. Despite their numerous satellite launches, ISRO has never launched a human into space, although plans are being made for a potential human mission in 2017.

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First woman in space Valentina Tereshkova was the first female to go to space. The Russian cosmonaut made the journey in 1963, aged just 27. It marked another huge victory for the former Soviet Union in their on-going space contest with America. The US didn’t send a woman out of the atmosphere until 1983, and had previously been beaten by a month in their race with the Russians to send a man up to space for the very first time. Perhaps more significant than the intercontinental rivalry provoked by the Cold War, was the hope that Valentina gave to women, not just in Russia, but everywhere. That a woman in the 1960’s was able to make an impact on such a maledominated sector, was quite remarkable at that time.

The Eastern Seaboard by night This image of the East Coast of America at night was captured by a crewmember aboard the International Space Station in 2012. The photo perfectly illustrates the modern urbanisation of the USA, with New York and Manhatten (bottom right), Philadelphia (left of New York), and Pittsburgh (central) all clearly visible, along with the major highways that link them. Further north is Washington DC and Maryland. Views like this allow Astronauts to feel like they are not so very far from home, and that back on Earth everything is just as it should be.

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INSPIRE Celebrating Human Endeavour of luck for the training and the mission. Prince Sultan had great responsibility on his shoulders, carrying the weight of expectation and the global reputation of the Arab states with him through the intense training period. The trip would potentially change the way the western world perceived the Arab world forever. The Arab world had always had to import the latest technology from the western world, but Prince Sultan’s journey was something that people would always be able to marvel at and call their own, and the coverage would hopefully inspire a new generation to embark upon careers in the fields of science and technology, reducing dependence on the west for modern conveniences, and establishing a strong presence for the sector in a number of states throughout the Middle East. This was one of the core objectives in the long run.

Prince Sultan getting ready for the most important journey of his life The NASA team were multi-national, the first time this was the case

The story of the first Arab in space

was opened up for an Arab to take their place on the Space Shuttle Discovery flight arranged for the 17th June, 1985.

On the 17th June 1985, Prince Sultan bin Salman of Saudi Arabia blasted off from the Kennedy Space Centre aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery with a team of international crewmembers, on a mission that would forever transform the Arab world. It was 1976, and the Arab League had identified the need to bring the region together by finding a new, reliable means of interstate communication. The decision was made to launch a satellite that would link the entire 14 million square kilometre Arab world, and it was the Arab Telecommunication Union, the Arab Organisation for Education, Science and Culture, and the Arab States Broadcasting Union that worked in collaboration under the umbrella of the Arab League to implement a satellite network that would bring the Arab world into a new era. With the idea now firmly in place, it was decided to establish an institution for satellite communications to be based in Riyadh, named Arabsat. ISSUE 02

Arabsat began work right away, and commissioned a French company, Aérospatiale, to work on Arabsat-1a, destined to be the first Arab satellite placed into orbit. The satellite was successfully launched from a launchpad in Europe, however with the eyes of the Arab world upon it, the satellite failed to open correctly when placed into orbit due to a malfunction, and although after several failed attempts it was eventually opened, it was unable to function at the level they hoped for initially. The Arab League were disappointed, but persevered with their plan and, instead of losing hope, they decided to try for a second

time. This time however, they planned to send an Arab astronaut or payload specialist to oversee the mission. It had also been a long-term ambition of the Arab League to launch a satellite through NASA, and a contract was drawn up and signed, which would see an Arab astronaut accompany the second satellite, Arabsat-1b into outer space with the American space agency. The idea of NASA ever allowing a nonAmerican to fly was completely alien at that time, but NASA broke with tradition as they saw the amazing enthusiasm the Arab world had for the space program and space exploration, and so a payload specialist role

The journey towards becoming a NASA astronaut is one of the most demanding anyone could ever face, both mentally and physically, and many candidates barely make it through the initial week of the testing period. So as a young Prince Sultan took his place among the 19 other Arab hopefuls, he wasn’t even contemplating the idea that he might succeed in the training and have a chance of playing a role in the mission, he was just delighted to have been able to apply, having learnt of the opportunity only weeks before the testing of the applicants was due to begin. During testing, each applicant was scrutinised and put through their paces severely in a search for the extra aptitude required to successfully partake in a space mission. When it comes to space missions and NASA protocol, it would be extremely naïve to think that one’s social standing would have any impact upon whether they would be allowed to go into space, so for Prince Sultan there

was never a question that he may be allowed to go because of who he was. The process of selection is based on a list of very specific criteria related to skillset and competence, and although the Prince felt drained after the testing, he thought he had done a good job.

Arab ambassador The news came though that the Prince had been selected for the mission, and his original tiredness made way for excitement, but there was still many obstacles in his way before he would be looking down upon the Earth from the atmosphere, not least the requirement to gain approval from King Fahd. No member of any royal family had ever flown a space mission before, and the King was certainly staking a lot on the 27-year old Prince being the ambassador for the whole Arab World, with the eyes of the planet upon him. He wanted to make sure he was up to the job, but the Prince showed his commitment and his enthusiasm, and with some words of reassurance and encouragement from his father, the current ruler King Salman, King Fahd gave his blessing and wished the Prince the very best

When the Prince arrived at Houston, Texas for his condensed 10-week training period, he nearly wasn’t allowed into the high-security training complex. Turning up wearing jeans and a t-shirt, the security guards refused to believe that the Prince was actually who he said he was. They were of course expecting him at the Lyndon B Johnson Space Centre that day, but when the arrival of such a high profile member of a royal family is anticipated, so too is an entourage, perhaps a fleet of limousines, and a lot of expensive luggage. This really wasn’t the Prince’s style though, and after finally negotiating his way in with the help of his passport, he was able to begin his intensive course. There was one other quite significant obstacle in his way, and that was the fact that in the summer months in Houston, temperatures and humidity soar to a level similar to that of the Middle East, and the daylight hours run from around 5am to 8:30pm. This wouldn’t usually be an issue, but the holy month of Ramadan fell in the middle of the training program, so the long days and intense physical exertion made fasting a real challenge, but even though scholars are unanimously agreed that a traveller is permitted to refrain from fasting, the Prince was adamant that he would not only fast, but also complete a year’s worth of training in a two-month period. And he did.

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Celebrating Human Endeavour When the launch day came around, the sense of nervousness and excitement across the Arab world was palpable. In the mideighties, the global interest in space missions was at an all-time high, so the eyes of the entire world were fixed on the Space Shuttle Discovery on the 17th June 1985. What made this particular mission so interesting on a purely human level was that it was a multinational mission, the first time this had really been done by NASA. The Shuttle contained predominantly Americans, but also one payload specialist of French descent, and a mission specialist who originated from China, despite being raised in Oklahoma USA, in addition to Prince Sultan.

Into orbit The main mission of the flight was to place Arabsat-1b into orbit, and the responsibility in the eyes of the watching Arab world was firmly in the hands of Prince Sultan. As the launch process began, the tension was evident on the faces of the watching public and the Prince’s family, who had made the trip to the Kennedy Space Centre, Florida, to witness their young Prince leave the Earth. The launch was a success, and work began in earnest at making the Space Shuttle a home for the next seven days. The satellite was placed into orbit, and a day later it was time to test its operational capabilities. The method for testing was

The Prince making notes in zero-gravity

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perhaps the highest profile method of all. On television, in a live satellite link up with the King, and with the whole Arab world watching. If they could converse, the satellite would be officially operational. The call took place, and the Prince and King spoke for five minutes, with the King commending Sultan for his achievements and his representation of the Arab world.

and they celebrated together. This was not just a Saudi mission; this was an Arab mission, with the message that we must take challenges, and embark upon new experiences, a message that has remained to this day, and is exhibited by the UAE and the ambition with which MBRSC has displayed by moving onto new frontiers with the Hope Probe to Mars.

As a result of the mission, not only did the Arab world now have instant communication connectivity to each other via telephone, but also people were now far more aware of and interested in space science, particularly the young. This was one of the goals of Prince Sultan’s mission, and since the mission he has constantly toured schools to talk to and inspire youngsters as a role model for millions.

“I remember watching the Apollo 11 moon landing aged just 13 in Saudi Arabia. It was definitely a very exciting moment for myself as a young boy and my friends. We were talking about the momentous event for whole week afterwards. As young people we began to dream. I never thought that I would one day be an astronaut that travelled into space, and it was an honour. A larger honour for me was being able to meet the astronauts, cosmonauts and the flyers that have spent their lifetime learning, participating in and observing the space program.

His main job started when he landed safely back on earth. He was now a symbol of the Arab world, and he showed the Arab children that here is nothing you can’t accomplish. The mission also acted as a catalyst for the Arab World to be able to enter into agreements and collaborate with some of the most distinguished global scientific organisations, which suddenly realised that the Arab world too has brilliant minds and capable scientists. The Arab people felt their region had now realised a high level of scientific achievement,

“I can say with full confidence that the space program still energises and inspires real people. In my case, in 1985 I remember, when our team of scientists and myself came back to Saudi, the faces on the young people of Saudi and the pride they felt by seeing their own people participating in the space program. Space has always been a very real attraction for young people aspiring to do more with their lives, and as I live in Saudi and indeed travel the world giving lectures, I still feel the welcoming arms of young people everywhere who get excited by talking about space, and as I go around and lecture and speak about space programs, I feel that the space program and the interest is more powerful than ever before.” Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud – the first Arab in space, the first Muslim in space, and the first member of royalty in space.

DHL – The secret to remaining the best Majarat speaks to Frank-Uwe Ungerer, DHL Express UAE Country Manager, about how his company has managed to win the GPTW Institute’s award as the best company to work for in the UAE for the second year in a row. A big part of the vision of the leadership of Dubai is to try to emphasise the importance of employees to success, whether the entity is private or public. The Government continues to work hard to instil the idea that incentives, the working environment and general conditions of employment are directly correlated to prosperity in business, a notion that DHL can bear testament to. The latest study conducted by the global workplace consultant and research company, Great Place To Work (GPTW) Institute has named DHL as the best company to work for in the UAE for the second year in a row. The GPTW award and ranking system is an established accolade in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, and is certainly a sought-after prize, with DHL beating off competition from Microsoft, Ericsson, FedEx, Estee Lauder and the Marriott Group to name but a few.

We conduct an in-depth training needs analysis to identify individual and team training requirements which are made available to all employees One of the KPI’s of the award is based on staff feedback through questionnaires. These questionnaires relate to employee trust, company credibility, communication, respect, fairness and freedom of expression, and are world-renowned, annually revised forms, which are seen as the gold standard

Frank-Uwe Ungerer, DHL Express UAE Country Manager

measure of defining a great workplace. The secondary aspect to the grading is based on a moderator audit and assessment of the employer and the culture within the workplace. Country Manager, Frank-Uwe Ungerer, offers us an insight into how DHL won the award for the second year running, and how the company continues to derive positive results and growth through its staff training, and the emphasis it places on employee satisfaction. Majarat: How important are the staff to what DHL is trying to achieve in the UAE?

FUU: “In a service industry like ours, our employees ARE the key differentiator in being able to deliver on our customer promise in the UAE and across the 220 countries we operate in. This is reflected in our FOCUS strategy, which has four pillars – the first of which is “Motivated People”. We believe that if we have engaged and motivated employees they will deliver outstanding service which builds customer loyalty and ultimately allows us to be more profitable and successful as a business. Our employees are crucial to our success and maintaining our service leadership in the market.” ISSUE 02

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DHL is the number one logistics company in the world

every year, covering several touch points. Our senior management team spend two thirds of their time out in the field with our front line employees to make sure they are engaged and motivated.

The working environment has a big impact upon productivity

Majarat: What kind of training and incentives do staff receive? FUU: “DHL has a global ‘Certified International Specialists’ training and development platform which provides all of our 100,000+ staff training on the express logistics industry, functional expertise and the DHL attributes. This ensures a consistent approach and develops our employees not just in their role but improves their career growth opportunities. The training covers all levels in the business and even has a Certified International Manager and Supervisor program to build leadership expertise. This is also a commitment to our customers and ensures that no matter where you are in the world, you would still receive the same level of consistent service quality. “In addition to the CIS program, we conduct an in-depth training needs analysis to identify ISSUE 02

individual and team training requirements which are made available to employees through classroom training, blended learning and e-learning, and cover a range of soft skills and competency development requirements.”

Our communication is extremely open, and senior management take feedback extremely seriously Majarat: What is the workplace culture at DHL in the UAE, and was it instilled by the international DHL brand, or is the way you run the business here exclusive to the UAE? FUU: “The workplace culture at DHL is a

work hard, play hard culture. We have a very strong global DHL culture but recognise the differences of each of the regions that we operate in and we tweak it where necessary to make sure that we are creating the best work environment for our employees. “The UAE is unique in several ways and we recognise this. We capitalise on our diversity and create a strong family atmosphere to provide a support system since people are away from home. Some of the other things that help define our culture include an open door policy to make sure that our employees can always voice their hopes and concerns without fear. “Our communication is extremely open, and senior management take feedback extremely seriously, acting upon it where necessary. This is also supported by our annual Employee Opinion Survey, which measures our employee engagement levels

“We have transparency in all of our policies. Recognition and having fun are very important and encouraged by all managers. And finally, we celebrate our successes and act on our areas for improvement together as one.” Majarat: What do you think are the three most important attributes needed from employees to bring success for a company? FUU: “They need to be engaged and motivated in a sense whereby every day is their best day at work. This will result in them delivering great service quality for our customers and ultimately leading to loyal customers. Achieving this not only makes us profitable, but a great place to work as well. This is the cycle and culture that we are promoting in DHL. The key attributes that help employees deliver this are speed, passion, a “can do” and “right first time” mentality, all supported by an overall value of respect.” Majarat: How important would you say the working environment is in inspiring and motivating staff?

FUU: “The working environment does play a crucial role in the enthusiasm and happiness of employees. Last year we moved to our new state-of-the art country office and ground operations centre in Meydan, and from its initial stages of design we have made sure that the building has a lot of windows and natural light flowing into the office and the key basics such as covered car parks, good c/c and ventilation in the warehouses and good workstations.

You need to make sure your people are happy, respected and understand the value of their work to the business. This builds engagement and will make people want to work with the company. “We also made sure we included the opinions of our employees in terms of their expectations and elements they would like to have in the building, such as a quiet room,

billiards, showers, a PlayStation and even a fully equipped fitness centre!” Majarat: What advice would you give to a company looking to get more out of their employees? FUU: “You need to make sure your people are happy, respected and understand the value of their work to the business. This builds engagement and will make people want to work with the company. Motivation and engagement are crucial for any successful business. Include your people in community initiatives, drive a culture of coaching and developing your employees and most importantly, respect and recognise the great work they deliver. This will ultimately boost morale and keep them motivated.” Majarat: Why do you think your staff have voted you as the best company to work for in the UAE for two years in a row? FUU: “I think because we try to do all the various initiatives I mentioned earlier. We not only do it consistently but also continue to build and improve on it every year. Our employees can feel the difference and appreciate all that is being done for them. There is no magic wand and it’s a continuous focus on listening and making the right changes.” For more information on DHL Logistics in the UAE, visit www.dhl.ae

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The greatest spacecraft of all time Majarat takes you on a journey through space history, as we look at the most iconic, most technologically advanced spacecraft ever built on Earth. Each has made an invaluable contribution to the advancement of our knowledge of outer space, but which is the greatest?

Apollo 11 As the first spacecraft to take man to the moon, Apollo 11 simply has to be the greatest spacecraft of all time. The moon landing is still to this day the most seminal space accomplishment, and the three crew members of Apollo 11 (Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins) are household names the world over. Launched in 1969, Apollo 11 invigorated and inspired the human race, and was undoubtedly responsible for most of the groundbreaking scientists and engineers that have contributed so much to the advancement of the industry, opting to pursue a career in space in the first place. Apollo 11 effectively ended the space race with Russia, with the Russians having to concede defeat to a job well done. Just three hours before the launch of Apollo 11, and unmanned Russian spacecraft called Lunar 15 had entered into an orbit of the moon as the Russians tried to successfully land it, take rock samples and bring them back to Earth before the American astronauts could do the same. Sadly for them, a malfunction occurred which saw Lunar 15 hurtle into the moon and destroy itself, leaving the pathway clear for the victorious Americans, and the most famous words ever spoken: “One small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.” Apollo 11 Stats: Launch Date: 16th July 1969 Cost: $7.95 billion Mission Duration: 8 days Space Agency: NASA Maximum Distance from Earth: 239,070 miles

New Horizons New Horizons takes its place inside our list as it has sparked such massive interest in space travel and the possibilities human endeavour represents. Having just completed a flypast of Pluto, the farthest planetary body in our Solar System, and sent back the most detailed images of the dwarf planet yet, New Horizons has received massive international exposure for all it has thus far achieved. But it’s not done yet. It is also the highest velocity spacecraft ever built, travelling at a staggering 36,000 miles per hour, so as it now heads towards the Kepler Belt, it could end up making it to a planet in another Solar System long before any other man-made apparatus. New Horizons Stats: Launch Date: 19th January 2006 Cost: $650 million Mission Duration: 9 years Space Agency: NASA Maximum Distance from Earth: 2.8 billion miles

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International Space Station The International Space Station (ISS) is certainly one of the most important spacecraft of all time, and probably the most impressive piece of engineering ever witnessed. As a living facility and research laboratory orbiting the Earth, the ISS has been home to over 200 astronauts and cosmonauts, with research and discoveries undertaken on the space station likely to play an integral role in the development of future human space endeavour, including the potential of taking humans to Mars. The laboratory has made huge breakthroughs in the fields of physics, biology meteorology and astronomy, and has also given astronauts a base from where to communicate live and directly with the general public via social media platforms such as Twitter, posting photos and performing live webcasts while fielding questions and carrying out a number of interesting requests from the thousands who follow their every move. With 15 different nationalities having visited the space station, it represents the first and most significant truly global collaboration on a space project, testament to the achievements that are possible when great minds from all nations come together to work as one. International Space Station Stats: Launch Date: 20th November 1998 Cost: $150 billion Mission Duration: 16 years Space Agency: ESA, CSA, JAXA, NASA & Roscosmos Maximum Distance from Earth: 262 miles

Voyager 1

Viking 1

Voyager 1 is the only spacecraft to have travelled into interstellar space. Launched in 1977, with a lot of technical equipment that became very quickly out-dated, the most remarkable thing about the Voyager 1 is that it is still fully functioning, and that it left our Solar System in September 2014, 37 years after its launch. The fact that it is still able to communicate with Earth is a testament to the genius of the engineers that worked on it, with the limited technology available at the time. Where Voyager 1 will end up, nobody knows, but as it traverses the Kepler belt on its way to the next Solar System, it leaves us with a legacy of being the spacecraft that has taken the most extraordinary journey, and been responsible for one of the most exciting space developments ever.

Viking 1 was the first spacecraft to land on Mars, and was the first to send back colour images of the Red Planet. Launched in 1975, and equipped with both an orbiter and a lander component, Viking 1’s legacy stretches to the modern day, and the UAE Hope probe mission to Mars that the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre has embarked upon. The images were transmitted across the world on every major television network, giving the human race its first clear view of the Martian surface, a surface and landscape that was previously reserved only for the imagination. The Viking 1 lander continued to send data and photographs of the surface, while taking soil samples too, up until a malfunction occurred six years later.

Voyager 1 Stats:

Viking 1 Stats: Launch Date: 20th August 1975 Cost: $1 billion Mission Duration: 1,824 days Space Agency: NASA Maximum Distance from Earth: 33.9 million miles

Launch Date: 5th September 1977 Cost: $250 million Mission Duration: 37 years Space Agency: NASA Maximum Distance from Earth: 12 billion miles

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Hubble Space Telescope

Space Shuttle Discovery

The Hubble Telescope has provided the most detailed images of far off stars and galaxies we have ever laid eyes on. The telescope raised the profile of space in a way no other spacecraft could, by providing stunning clarity to images of the universe, and allowing the human race to start to comprehend the size, the splendour, the instability and the beauty of the environment we find ourselves flying through at 67,000 miles per hour. The Hubble Telescope was only predicted to last 15 years in its orbit, and yet a quarter of a century later it continues to send back groundbreaking images, and shows no sign of slowing down. A triumph for human engineering, and human endeavour, the Hubble Telescope’s most lasting legacy in terms of discovery was the accuracy with which it was able to demonstrate the formation and expansion of the universe with unwavering accuracy.

The iconic Space Shuttle Discovery captured the imagination of a whole new generation of space enthusiasts, as its spectacular and numerous launches coincided with a higher definition of television coverage, making the impact and sheer magnitude of a space launch really become apparent in homes across the world. It has logged more flying time than any other spacecraft in history, and successfully completed 39 missions during its 28-year long career. Discovery logged more than 148 million flight miles, and has a portfolio brimming with a selection of the most remarkable space exploits ever seen. These include the launch of the Hubble Telescope and the Ulysses space probe, as well as being the spacecraft that carried the first Arab into space. As a trusted and reliable spacecraft, the Space Shuttle Discovery clearly stands head and shoulders above the rest of its predecessors, and most of those that have been commissioned since. Space Shuttle Discovery was finally retired in March 2011, and is now on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Centre in Virginia.

Hubble Space Telescope Stats: Launch Date: 24th April 1990 Cost: $2.5 billion Mission Duration: 24.5 years Space Agency: ESA, STScl & NASA Maximum Distance from Earth: 355 miles

Space Shuttle Discovery Stats: Launch Date: 30th August 1984 Cost: $1.5 billion Mission Duration: 27 years Space Agency: NASA Maximum Distance from Earth: 330 miles

Galileo

Vostok 1

Galileo was the first spacecraft to orbit Jupiter, the largest planet in our Solar System. The unmanned NASA probe was launched in October 1989, with the mission of studying Jupiter and some of its 63 moons. In 1995, after six years, Galileo reached its subject and began its analysis of the atmosphere of the gas-covered planet. One of the most significant discoveries Galileo uncovered came not on Jupiter, but on one of its moons – Europa. The evidence gathered by Galileo strongly points towards water being present underneath the thick sheet of ice enveloping the surface of Europa, as well as the presence of minerals seemingly not unlike clay. To this day, the discovery remains one of the most fascinating examples of organic material we have ever found outside of the Earth. In 2003, the mission ended as NASA sent Galileo plummeting into the atmosphere of Jupiter at a speed of 108,000 miles per hour.

The Vostok 1 took Yuri Gagarin into space in 1961, making him the first man in space. Still to this day this is one of the most spectacular achievements by the human race, and was made all the sweeter for the Russians as they beat the US by three weeks. Changing the course of history, and showing the world that anything is possible, the Soviet-built Vostok 1 deserves recognition for everything it accomplished in its 1 hour 48 minute mission. Not only did Gagarin become the first man to go into an orbit of the Earth, he also made it safely back to the ground, although he did end up over 5,000 miles away from home as he crash-landed in Angola. The remains of the spacecraft are on display at the RKK Energiya museum just outside Moscow.

Galileo Stats:

Vostok 1 Stats: Launch Date: 12th April 1961 Cost: $4 million Mission Duration: 1 hour 48 minutes Space Agency: Soviet space program Maximum Distance from Earth: 203 miles

Launch Date: 18th October 1989 Cost: $1.4 billion Mission Duration: 7.7 years Space Agency: NASA Maximum Distance from Earth: 490 million miles

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Pioneer 10

Pioneer became the first spacecraft to enter the asteroid belt on its way to Jupiter, and represented NASA’s first attempt at navigating a probe through the precarious rock belt, something it did successfully. This opened up the floodgates for the American space agency to send numerous missions to the farther reaches of our Solar System. Launched in 1972, Pioneer 10 gave us our first detailed images of Jupiter, and also allowed us to discover that the planet radiates more heat than it receives from the Sun. After sending back more than 500 images of Jupiter, Pioneer 10 continued into the outer reaches of space, and although the mission was officially ceased in 1997, Pioneer 10 kept in contact up until the signal was lost in 2003. The spacecraft is now in deep space, approaching Proximi Centauri, the nearest star to our Solar System. Pioneer 10 Stats: Launch Date: 3rd March 1972 Cost: $150 million Mission Duration: 30.9 years Space Agency: NASA Maximum Distance from Earth: 7.46 billion miles

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INTERMISSION Rest, Refresh & Refuel

Rest, Refresh & Refuel

Mars One – A new civilisation on Mars in under 15 years? Majarat speaks to the Mars One foundation’s CEO, Bas Lansdorp, about his hopes for putting humans on Mars, and exactly what one would do on the Red Planet if they went there.

providing clean water, food and shelter for millions of starving people in Ethiopia. The publicity and enthusiastic support of Live Aid has never been seen since, and the figure raised as a direct result of the British and US concerts 30 years later sits at £150 million (871,088,600AED), of which the ruling family of Dubai were the largest single contributors after a direct phone conversation with organiser Bob Geldof.

How the Mars colony might look on the Red Planet

After the initial team of four humans have landed on the Red Planet, the Mars One initiative will aim to send another group every 26 months thereafter, creating a new civilisation 225,300,000km from home. There are those that foresee a number of difficulties for the ambitious project, not least being able to secure the necessary funding and acquiring the technology in time for a 2026 human launch to Mars, but CEO and co-founder, Bas Lansdorp is a man with big dreams and big ambitions. “When I saw images of the surface of Mars

as a student back in 1997, it made me want to go there myself,” Lansdorp recalls, going on to explain that having spent his spare time with friends plotting a way to make a visit a distinct possibility, “I sold shares in my previous company to finance the start-up of Mars One.” He has been working full-time on the project since 2011. The long-term vision is to bring humanity to a new planet, but Lansdorp acknowledges this is something that can’t happen overnight. “We envisage that the Mars One colony will be large and equipped enough to be selfsustainable, but we realise this can only be achieved by decades of effort and patience.”

Money Talks As well as patience and hard work, a huge amount of funding and support from other initiatives and space agencies is required to quite literally get Mars One off the ground.

Collaboration Works “We estimate the cost of putting the first crew on Mars in order to sustain the first colony to be $6 billion.” This figure seems like quite a large sum, especially in light of the amount of funding the Mars One foundation has made public on their website, a figure which currently sits at $784,380.

Lansdorp also hopes to be able to collaborate with other companies looking to establish a human settlement on Mars. “We are looking to join forces with several other initiatives, both private and public, to allow each of us to play a role in bringing humanity to a new planet.” he states.

This was the largest appeal for the world’s public to place money into something which simply couldn’t be ignored any longer – the plight of fellow human beings with no power to be able to help themselves. The Mars One project needs to achieve funding levels of around 40 times the level of Live Aid, and in just 11 years, to reach its target. The project has apparently managed to attract some investors looking to make returns, seemingly attracted by the idea that if such a project were to take off, the television rights would be more than enough to provide a significant return on investment. It is the television rights and the intellectual property rights, or at least the profits each of these could yield investors, which will form the basis of the appeal for when Mars One floats on the Stock Exchange in the coming years.

Mars One is an organisation with big ideas. The founders aim to begin a colony on Mars in the year 2026, with an unmanned preparation launch scheduled for 2020, using the same launch window as the UAE’s very own Hope Mars Probe.

INTERMISSION

But without the support of similar initiatives and the larger space agencies, the task of even launching the first crew is made much

Inside one of the Mars dwellings more difficult. So what kind of relationship does Mars One enjoy with these numerous entities? “Mars One is very interested in co-operating with various space agencies in the coming years. Many of our advisers hold or have held important positions at space agencies. Most of our suppliers have developed and operated components for NASA, ESA and the International Space Station missions. Future co-operation could include sharing of hardware resources, collaborating in answering scientific questions or taking a payload of one of the space agencies on one of our missions.”

When it comes to the technology and the personnel required for such an ambitious project, both already exist. In fact currently, there are 100 hopeful applicants being put through their paces at the Mars One headquarters in the third round of candidate testing. Two of these are Dubai residents. The original number of applicants has been stated to be somewhere between 2,000 and 200,000, depending on which media outlet is reporting on it. They will eventually be cut down to four, who will potentially be the first humans to set foot on another planet. When it comes to selection of the correct candidates, Lansdorp believes that the decision is one far too great to be undertaken just by the foundation itself. “The selected crew will be heroes for generations to come as envoys of all humanity. For this reason, Mars One feels the need to share the decision of selecting the individuals with everyone. Having said that, at no point in the selection process will the wider public choose someone who the Mars One selection committee determines unfit for the mission. The expert panel in the committee will exclude anyone who is not qualified, only after which the public will choose their representatives to Mars.”

Potentially there’s a list of private investors in Mars One, who choose to keep their donations out of the public domain. However, finding $6 billion worth of investment from public contributions would require a recordbreaking level of financing. To put the challenge of raising this figure in context, we can look back at Live Aid 1985, the largest global simulcast television appeal for cash in living memory. The concerts were broadcast across the globe to an estimated audience of 1.9 billion, geared towards Astronauts would be required to build their own residences upon Mars, should they get there

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THE LAST WORD

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Final Thoughts of the Managing Editor

To the future...

And so we reach the conclusion of the second issue of Majarat. The journey involved in creating a magazine that both educates and stimulates the minds of UAE residents and nationals is a pleasurable one, and we hope that by keeping our readers up to date with all the activity at the space centre, that you feel as though you are with us as we continue with our historic missions. I must say the feedback from our first issue across social media has been overwhelming, and on behalf of the team, I thank you all for your kind words. We hope to be able to continue to inspire each and every single individual to look at the awe-inspiring world of space science and technology in a different way. Perhaps you were unaware of the significant contributions to international space programs that Arabs have already made? We will continue to cover and speak with the most inspiring role models from our region who have made such telling contributions to the credibility of the Arab world in the eyes of larger nations. One day, we could even be writing about you. Because what the UAE Hope probe mission certainly offers each and everyone of us is the opportunity to become inspired and to become involved in something that will redefine Arab history. We embark on projects such as these to give our nation hope and to inspire our people, but these projects also represent an opportunity to participate, to take part, for those with the right attitude, determination and ambition. The future is yours to create. Until next time…

Mona Al Qamzi Managing Editor

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