Issue 1: Welcome to Space
Welcome to Backstory: Space. This is a special edition of our weekly newsletter devoted to everything about the UAE’s upcoming mission to Mars – Mary Ames, Director of Strategy
TAKING FLIGHT
Welcome to Space
In less than two weeks’ time, the UAE will make space history for the second time in two years. On a remote Japanese island, the UAE will launch the Arab world’s first deep space mission with a Mars probe called Amal, or ‘Hope’. Late last year, we marked another milestone when Hazza Al Mansouri became the first Emirati to leave the Earth’s atmosphere on a mission to the International Space Station. These two events demonstrate the maturity of the UAE’s space program but space exploration is actually nothing new for the Emirates.
A seat at the table: A successful space program is the mark of a truly innovative country. The leading nations of the world invest in space exploration for the benefit of humanity and to spur innovation at home. With the Hope probe to Mars, the UAE is inspiring the next generation of Emirati and Arab scientists to literally reach for the stars. At the same time, the probe is bringing the UAE scientifically closer to the most powerful countries in the world. According to NASA scientists, who will be working closely with the Hope probe, the UAE spacecraft could provide breakthrough data on why Mars’s ancient river system dried up. Such a breakthrough could change the course of human history.
A new beginning: In the buildup to the launch of the Hope probe, we’ll be exploring the UAE’s long-standing fascination with space exploration and how this probe will mark a major turning point in building the Emirati knowledge economy. Look out for these special editions landing in your inbox on Friday mornings and on the day of the launch. This mission is about more than reaching Mars and unlocking data on the Red Planet’s past. It’s a watershed moment for the nation. It’s about the shared enthusiasm for science and the quest for knowledge in the UAE and the Arab world. This message of unity and exploration is needed now more than ever and we couldn’t be prouder to fly the flag of Emirati ingenuity.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“The Hope Probe highlights our national treasure of hundreds of young Emirati engineers and experts working on the mission. These young people are part of drafting a beautiful new chapter in the UAE’s future.”
– HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid, Crown Prince of Dubai
SPACE VIEWS
Our writing on space: Space exploration is nothing new for the UAE. For several years, Xische has closely followed the development of the UAE’s space program along with the growth of the local knowledge economy. With leading research institutions, a viable space program, and the beginnings of a lively knowledge economy, the UAE is harnessing not just Emirati talent but Middle Eastern talent as a whole. In this piece from 2018, we took a deep dive into how the UAE became a leader in satellite technology and what that means for the future of the local space program.
A new chapter: When Hazza Al Mansouri lifted off from a remote Russian space facility in Kazakhstan, he carried the hopes and aspirations of a nation and a people. He also became the first Emirati in space and first Arab to visit the International Space Station. In this piece from the time of the launch, we reflected on the gravity of the moment (no pun intended) and how it was the start of a major chapter in UAE history.
A MESSAGE FROM DIGITAI
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SPOTTED ELSEWHERE
What does space smell like? Space travel has fascinated humans since the beginning of time but one question remains unanswered for most of us: What does space smell like? We recently stumbled upon this unique Kickstarter campaign that’s bringing the deep space smell to the masses. Decades ago, NASA contracted specialists to develop the “smell of space” to help train astronauts before launch into orbit. Now you can buy that smell as a fragrance. Who’s ready to bring the smell of space down to Earth?
Blockchain in space: Space travel and cyber security. Can you think of any clear connection between these two sectors? We couldn’t either until we stumbled upon a host of articles describing how space exploration and the growth of the commercial space exploration sector is a boon for cryptocurrency and cyber security. We wouldn’t bore you with all the nerdy details (click on this article if you want to go deeper) but suffice it to say the knock-on effects of space travel have no end.