Issue 4: Destiny in the Stars
Welcome to Backstory: Space. This is a special edition of our weekly newsletter devoted to the UAE’s mission to Mars – Mary Ames, Director of Strategy
TAKING FLIGHT
Destiny in the Stars
Our destiny is to take root among the stars. That’s how the main character of Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower explains her movement to change society on Earth. Butler’s classic work of science fiction imagines a near-future world torn apart by climate change and political infighting. Her protagonist advocates for human settlement among the stars. Why? Because taking people into space kickstarts scientific and technological exploration that could change how we live on Earth.
Knowledge: While Butler’s science fiction might not be everyone’s cup of tea, the relationship between space exploration and innovation is indisputable. Over the last month of writing on the UAE’s Hope probe to Mars, we’ve explored how the Emirati space program will inject new vigor into the country’s knowledge economy. But it’s not limited to technology and research. Space exploration literally expands the boundaries of possibility across all sectors of thought from culture to mathematics.
Intergalactic destiny: With the Hope probe on its way to the Red Planet, it’s important to mull over Butler’s world. While our destiny might not be to actually live among the stars, we certainly have a future in exploring the limitless possibilities of scientific research. When young people watched the lift-off of the Hope probe from its remote Japanese launch pad, they were filled with infinite motivation to realize human destiny. As HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said about the hope probe, the impossible is possible.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them."
– Marcus Aurelius, philosopher
SPACE VIEWS
Our writing on space: Over the past month, we’ve been exploring all aspects of the UAE’s space program. Throughout our special Backstory: Space editions and published articles on our website, Xische has been a one-stop-shop for all things space. We strongly believe in the ability of space exploration to spur our knowledge economy at home. As the Hope probe continues its marathon mission, we’ll continue to closely follow the story of space. The Hope probe is only the beginning for the UAE, the region, and for us.
The space club: 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. His mission to the International Space Station marked the UAE’s admission to the space club. In this piece published by Xische, we outlined what it means for a small country to take a seat among the most powerful nations leading exploration of space.
A MESSAGE FROM DIGITAI
Artificial Intelligence can work for you. The pace of AI innovation is undeniable. With so many options to choose from, how can you be sure that you are making AI work for your needs? Discover what we’re doing at Digit Ai, a Xische company, to accelerate organisational capacity building that leverages AI and machine learning. Find solutions that make business sense and embrace the power of AI.
SPOTTED ELSEWHERE
A new galaxy: As the world prepared for this summer’s Mars mission, scientists released the first-ever photo of a new galaxy that looks like ours with a Sun-like star and several planets. The Independent reports that the discovery is a snapshot of an environment very similar to our solar system, but at a much earlier stage of its evolution. Such images are extremely rare but they demonstrate the importance of missions like the Hope probe in expanding our knowledge of the solar system.
Outer reaches: Speaking of the outer reaches of space, scientists have also released fresh images of an enormous “galaxy wall”. Named the South Pole Wall, the area consists of thousands of galaxies with trillions of stars and dark worlds as well as dust and gas aligned in a curtain arching across at least 700 million light-years of space. The New York Times reports that it’s basically impossible to see from Earth because the entire conglomeration is behind the Milky Way, in what astronomers quaintly call the Zone of Avoidance. At least we have images like the one above to spur our imagination.
Like what you're reading?
