Issue 26: Welcome to the Space Club
Welcome to Backstory, a weekly newsletter turning global technology shifts into a three-minute read. This week, we reflect on the UAE’s Space Agency in honour of Hazza Al Mansouri’s historic mission to the International Space Station – Mary Ames, Director of Strategy
THE BIG TAKE
Welcome to the Space Club
At four minutes to six this evening, a rocket will lift off from a remote Russian space facility in the dusty interior of Kazakhstan. Unlike previous missions, this rocket and tiny space capsule will represent the hopes and dreams of a small country that didn’t even have a space programme two decades ago. In a landmark moment for the UAE’s Space Agency, Hazza Al Mansouri will become the first Emirati to travel beyond the Earth’s atmosphere and first Arab to visit the International Space Station (ISS).
Inspiration: With today’s mission, the UAE will join a select club of nations engaged in space exploration and research. Over the last five years, the UAE Space Agency has worked tirelessly to create deep partnerships with the world’s leading space nations including the United States and Russia. Today, Al Mansouri will travel with Russian and American astronauts. The achievement of space exploration, however, will have the greatest impact at home. Al Mansouri’s bold mission has already inspired the next generation of Emiratis to literally reach for the stars. His determination and resolve are proof that anything is possible with hard work. This is true not only for the UAE but for the Arab world at large.
Knowledge at home: As astronauts race to discover the outer reaches of our solar system, their efforts kickstart research in wide and diverse fields. For a country building a sustainable knowledge economy, such a catalyst is beyond value. While at the ISS, Al Mansouri will conduct several experiments on the effects of microgravity. That research will be continued back home at the elite research facilities the UAE has set up to assist the Space Agency. This circle of research is already inspiring a new generation of mathematicians, scientists, and engineers. We are extraordinarily proud to call the UAE our home and watch Al Mansouri carry our hopes and dreams into the next chapter of innovation in this country.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Our objective is to show the world that we are able to contribute to humanity through quality knowledge and scientific discoveries."
HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid
OUR VIEWS THIS WEEK
Technology for good: It's easy to get gloomy about the role of technology in society. From data privacy scandals to hacks of iPhones, it can feel like the sector is going in the wrong direction. Amidst the daily deluge of negative headlines, we pause to look at the good that new technology is doing for society. We can embrace the challenges posed by our technological era while keeping our eyes open to the incredible solutions modern tools provide us.
Better together: Careem, the ride-hailing unicorn from Dubai that was recently purchased by Uber, is doing something bold. Instead of resisting regulation, it’s partnering with governments to strengthen its offering. That’s right, Careem announced it will work with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to create an entirely new offering. You can now order a Dubai RTA taxi through the Careem app. We explore how this seemingly simple announcement could make big waves internationally.
Collaboration in tech: Sticking with the collaborative theme this week, we review Singapore’s strategy for AI innovation. Instead of siloing its technology sector, Singapore wants to be an international hive of activity. The same approach is seen in the UAE’s knowledge ecosystem. At a time of global division, this path is a breath of fresh air.
SPOTTED ELSEWHERE
Facebook and your brain: CTRL-Labs is a New York-based startup working on bringing humans and machines closer together. They are creating methods for humans to communicate with computers via brain signals. There are plenty of companies out there doing similar work but CTRL-labs was just bought by Facebook in a deal worth roughly $1bn. Given the state of Facebook’s brand these days, the internet is running wild with claims that the social media giant is moving closer to controlling your mind. Judging by the number of times you check Instagram in a day, does Facebook really need a mind control company to get more of your attention?
Quantum computing: The race to build the fastest computer has been underway for decades but Google just upped the ante. Google researchers claimed this week that they built a machine capable of quantum supremacy. According to researchers, the new quantum processor can perform a calculation “in three minutes and 20 seconds that would take today’s most advanced classical computer approximately 10,000 years.” This is an incredible leap that puts us one step closer to a radically different future of machine learning and artificial intelligence. But don’t expect to see these chips in the next iPhone any time soon.