Her Excellency Sarah Bint Yousif Al Amiri, Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology and Chairperson of UAE Space, presided over the UAE Space Agency Board of Directors’ first meeting of 2023. The board members discussed their strategies and goals for securing the UAE’s place as a major participant in the space industry, particularly in light of the “Space Economic Report 2022” which revealed the sector’s explosive growth in the nation. They were briefed on the most recent accomplishments of the Emirati Mars Mission’s “Hope Probe,” including its role in enhancing the data management skills of the team’s highly skilled scientists. The board members were also introduced to the research submitted by the team and the 1.7 Terabytes of data that were released to the international scientific community. These included the first precise representation of Mars’ atmosphere throughout the year and at various times of day. Images of Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the solar system were also displayed. These images were captured using the probe’s scientific tools, namely, the Emirates Mars Ultraviolet Spectrometer (EMUS), the Emirates Mars Infrared Spectrometer (EMIRS), and the Emirates Exploration Imager (EXI).
The board also discussed the Abu Dhabi Space Debate’s recommendations, highlighting the significance of enhancing communications between top decision-makers worldwide and influential space industry players. This aims to support sustainability and the peaceful use of space, publishing periodical papers in local and international events, hosting sessions in various events, and publishing posts on a weekly and monthly basis on social media platforms.
The board also emphasized the significance of the Agency representing the space sector at the Dubai Airshow in 2023 in order to highlight the fundamental tenets of the national space sector plan, draw important international players, and assist SME participation. It will be an excellent opportunity for knowledge transfer, talent development, and exchanging expertise among young Emiratis.
The board members also discussed the participation in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28). They proposed the inclusion of sessions designed specifically for the leaders of international space organizations, businesses, and professionals in the field. They will also encourage international participants to share climate studies in an interactive setup.