The longest Arab space mission in history was launched on Thursday, March 2, 2023, carried out by the Emeriti astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi, during which he will spend 6 months aboard the International Space Station. In this article, we hope to provide insights into Zayed Ambition 2 and the economic opportunities presented by investing in the UAE’s Space Sector, considering the employment and revenue generated as a result of the sector’s growth.
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Zayed Ambition 2 – The Longest Arab Space Mission in History:
The Crew 6 of SpaceX, carrying astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi and his Crew-6 colleagues, has successfully arrived at the International Space Station after approximately 24 hours of launching on Thursday. Sultan AlNeyadi is now the second Arab to undertake a prolonged space mission. The Dragon capsule, named Endeavour, was utilized by Crew 6 and it lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 12:34 a.m. EST on March 2, 2023; the initial effort to launch the crew was called off on Monday because of an obstruction in the engine ignition system’s filter, moments before the launch.
AlNeyadi his Crew-6 colleagues will substitute a team composed of US-Russian-Japanese individuals who have been stationed there since October. The other occupants of the station are two Russians and an American. Their six-month stay was extended until September after their Soyuz capsule encountered a leak, and a new Soyuz capsule arrived last weekend. AlNeyadi, a communications engineer, was the backup for the first Emirati astronaut, Hazzaa Al-Mansoori, who travelled to the space station in 2019 for a one-week visit on a Russian spacecraft.
“Al Neyadi’s space mission marks the UAE’s second human space flight, following the eight-day expedition of the first Emirati astronaut, Hazzaa Al Mansoori, to ISS in 2019.”
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, and President of MBRSC, said “Congratulations to the UAE and the Arab world for achieving a historical milestone. Today, we start a new mission to explore space and achieve the impossible. We wish Sultan Al Neyadi success in this new journey.”
During the Post Launch News Conference, H.E. Salem Humaid AlMarri, the Director General of MBRSC, expressed his gratitude towards NASA and SpaceX for their dedication towards the successful launch of the mission, which was made even more special due to the presence of an Emirati astronaut on board. AlMarri highlighted that this was the UAE’s second astronaut mission, with the first being carried out by astronaut Hazzaa AlMansoori in 2019. He emphasized that the UAE has a long-term strategy and aims to promote human spaceflight missions in the region. The successful launch has made the UAE the 11th country globally to have launched a long-duration astronaut mission to the International Space Station, and the MBRSC will continue to work towards achieving its set goals.
According to Amer AlSayegh, the Senior Director of the Space Engineering Department at MBRSC, there will be continuous communication and collaboration between the ground control stations located in both the UAE and the USA, and the International Space Station.
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station spoke to Crew-6 on the Dragon spacecraft after a successful docking. Astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi was greeted in the Arabic language. He entered the International Space Station where he will spend the next 6 months on the longest Arab space mission in history. Adding to this great achievement, the MBRSC hosted SpaceOps 2023 in the UAE for the first time, bringing together key stakeholders from the space sector at the Dubai World Trade Centre on March 6-10, 2023 under the theme “Invest in Space to serve Earth and Beyond”.
Taking that recent achievement made by the UAE, it is worth noting that the space sector has emerged as a key contributor to the UAE’s economy, generating significant employment opportunities, promoting innovation and knowledge transfer, and driving economic growth. The UAE’s strategic investments in the sector have been focused on developing advanced satellite technologies, investing in space research and development, and fostering partnerships with international space agencies. Sen. Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator, referred to the importance of International Partnerships in the Space Sector, including NASA’s partnership with the UAE.
“Zayed Ambition 2, under the UAE Astronaut Programme, adds to UAE’s scientific achievements with 19 experiments by Al Neyadi.”
Zayed Ambition 2 – a Crucial Achievement for the UAE’s Space Sector:
The mission is one of a series of ambitious Emirati missions, which include the launch of MBZ-Sat and the arrival of the Explorer Rashid to the moon. Zayed Ambition 2, a part of the UAE Astronaut Programme, is a crucial addition to the scientific achievements of the UAE’s space sector and will see Al Neyadi conduct 19 research experiments and advanced studies.
Sultan Al Neyadi, undertaking the UAE Astronaut Mission 2, is the Mission Specialist of the Crew-6 mission, along with NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen (Spacecraft Commander) and Warren Hoburg (Pilot), and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev (Mission Specialist). Crew-6 is part of Expedition 68/69 to ISS.
During the mission, Sultan Al Neyadi will collaborate with NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) to conduct 19 scientific studies across a wide range of topics. These topics will include cardiovascular and immune system health, back pain, technical demonstrations, epigenetics, fluid science, plant biology, material science, sleep analysis, and radiation.
During the six months that astronaut Sultan will be spending on the ISS, the Emirate Literature Foundation will collaborate with MBRSC to produce a weekly broadcast filled with interviews, engaging facts, competitions, activities, and opportunities for all students in the UAE to ask the astronaut questions. The Centre aims to reach 20,000 students and children through the initiative, which is set to become a landmark in interactive education, bringing the ground-breaking and exciting work of the UAE’s space mission to life.
Zayed Ambition – UAE’s Space Economy and Its Potential for Sustainable Growth:
The UAE has made the space industry a top priority for the next 50 years, spending AED 22B on space-related activities between 2015 and 2020. Contractual agreements for space services and applications also increased by 40% in 2020, as reported by the UAE Space Agency.
In recent years, the country has implemented strategies to strengthen its space sector, including the recent long-term space mission of Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi. The UAE also launched the National Space Fund, a AED 3B fund to support innovative programs that encourage international and local cooperation in space engineering, sciences, and research applications.
To support the national space economy, the UAE Space Agency created the “Space Economic Zones Programme” to assist space startups and SMEs in forming partnerships with various entities within the country. The program has three primary components, including Space Economy Stimulus Packages, Space Labs, and the establishment of Space Economic Zones.
The objectives of the program are threefold: to develop an appealing and integrated business environment that meets both local and international needs, to enhance the competitiveness of companies involved in the space economy, thus increasing demand for space applications and services, and to promote innovation and expand the sector’s economic contribution to the non-oil GDP of the country.
In collaboration with the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre (FCSC), the UAE Space Agency conducted the “Space Economic Survey 2022” last year. The survey included input from various national entities operating in the space sector, such as government agencies, private companies, and academic and research institutions focused on space technology and communications in the UAE. The Space Economic Survey 2022 evaluates the impact of the space industry on the national economy, measuring factors such as the number of companies engaged in space activities, foreign investment, and total spending on space projects. The survey also examines investment in research and development, space exploration, and the number of people employed in the sector.
The growth of the UAE’s space sector has the potential for creating new job opportunities, with estimates suggesting that the sector currently employs over 2,000 people in the country, including highly skilled engineers, scientists, and technicians who work across the space industry’s various segments, such as satellite design and development, satellite operations and maintenance, and satellite-based services. Moreover, the UAE’s space sector has also stimulated the growth of other industries, including the development of new technologies, materials, and equipment, which are utilized in the manufacture and launch of satellites.
Additionally, the UAE launched the National Plan for the Promotion of Space Investment in 2019 with the objective of increasing domestic and foreign investment in the country’s space sector. This initiative aims to establish the UAE as a regional centre for commercial space activities and advanced research and development while also encouraging local investment in space-related projects both within the country and globally.
The Space Investment Promotion Plan aligns with the objectives outlined in the UAE Vision 2021, UAE 2071, and the UAE Plan on the 4th Industrial Revolution. Its primary objectives include diversifying and ensuring the sustainability of the UAE economy, promoting a highly productive knowledge-based economy, providing incentives for research and development, encouraging entrepreneurship, and enhancing the role and opportunities for SMEs in the private sector.
Speaking about Zayed Ambition 2, H.E. Salem Humaid AlMarri, the Director General of MBRSC, the UAE has had a long-standing interest in space that dates back to the 1970s, with the late H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan inspiring the country to pursue space exploration. During the opening ceremony of SpaceOps 2023, AlMarri further stated that MBRSC has achieved several significant milestones in space exploration, including launching satellites, sending the Hope Probe to Mars’ orbit, and the Rashid rover’s mission to the Moon, as well as participating in astronaut missions. AlMarri also emphasized that the UAE is committed to continuing its investments in space exploration.
From his side, Adnan AlRais, Local Organising Committee Chair, MBRSC, said that “Over 560 research papers will be presented showcasing the latest developments in mission planning, astronaut missions, and best practices, among others.”
Al Marri also added: “I think we’ll be the 10th or 11th country that does a long-term space flight to the ISS. And I think that sends a clear message that we are here to be active players and we are here to stay.”
The UAE has made remarkable progress in space exploration, from being the first Arab nation and fifth country globally to reach Mars to launching the first long-term Arab space mission. Two significant accomplishments in the country’s growing space endeavours are the Emirates Mars Mission, also known as the “Hope Probe,” and the Emirates Lunar Mission, also known as the “Rashid Rover.”
The UAE plans to establish a sustainable astronaut program by conducting multiple spaceflights in the future. Additionally, the country is in talks with NASA regarding participation in the Artemis program, which aims to establish a human presence on the Moon. Given the country’s ambitious space missions, it is highly likely that its future astronauts will be part of upcoming missions to the Moon, Mars, and other planets.
