Dubai among most photographed places from space: Former astronaut

Dubai - Astronauts "love taking photos of Dubai" as the Palm and World Islands are very eye-catching

Dubai is possibly the most photographed place from space than any other place on Planet Earth, former NASA astronaut, Don Thomas, said.
He told Khaleej Times that astronauts "love taking photos of Dubai" as the Palm and World Islands are very eye-catching.
Shane Kimbrough and Tim Peake are some among many astronauts who have tweeted pictures of the Palm and World Islands from space. Millions of people shared these photos after they were tweeted by the astronauts.
"There are more pictures taken of Dubai from the International Space Station, maybe, more than any other place on planet Earth. You can see the palm islands and the World islands from up there. It is so spectacular to see," he said.
"When I flew in my missions 20 years ago, they didn't exist but I still fly over the Arabian Gulf and I remember looking down and seeing black dots - the oil tankers. They aren't there anymore. The Palm Islands and World Islands are very eye-catching, so I know they are heavily photographed from up there."
Astronaut Shane Kimbrough tweeted a picture of Dubai's Palm and World Islands during the orbital night time in March. He wrote: "Good evening Dubai! Nice view of the city and Palm Island from @Space_Station."
In February, he had also posted a day time picture of Dubai. He tweeted: "Hello Dubai! The Palm Islands look amazing from @Space_Station."
Astronaut Chris Hadfield tweeted a pic of Dubai in March, 2016. He said: "Self-awareness: Dubai & the UAE from space, and onwards to infinity."
Astronaut Scott Kelly is also known to post several photos of Dubai from the International Space Station on social media.
Sarwat@khaleejtimes.com
UAE's Mars city plan is 'very achievable', says astronaut
A US veteran astronaut, who has done 692 orbits of Earth, said it's not long until an Emirati ventures into space after seeing the progress the UAE has made so far in space exploration.
Don Thomas, a retired Nasa astronaut, said the UAE "achieves whatever it sets its eyes" on and it will be a proud moment for the country when the Hope satellite orbits Mars with a UAE flag on its side by 2020. Thomas has carried out four space missions from 1994 to 1997. He has accomplished a total of 1,040 space hours and has done 692 orbits of Earth.
He said the UAE's plan of a mini city on mars is also "very achievable" and it's possible the country will have their goal accomplished much before their initial target year, 2117.
"I'm pretty excited about the UAE space agency and it wasn't even launched a long time ago. They've got great plans and I'm most excited about the Mars mission. It will arrive there in their 50th anniversary and that's such a powerful way to get the attention of the young students," Thomas said.
"I think it's going to capture their imagination when you have a spacecraft orbiting Mars and it has the flag of the UAE on the side, it'll be great for everyone in this great nation, especially for the students.
"Everything I've seen here, whatever you go for, you accomplish. So, if you want to get Emirati students up in space, you're on good track to do that."
Thomas said that the UAE's plan to build a mini city on Mars by the year 2117 is achievable and considering all of the progress the country has made in such a short period of time, it can reach that goal sooner than expected.
He said the world has the necessary technology to build a permanent base on Mars in the years to come.
"It's achievable. I think we have the technology right now and were developing them further and whatever you need to do for permanent base I think it can be accomplished. In 100 years, we will surpass that probably. It seems that it is so incredible you can do that and in hundred years, but with the progress made so far, you will see it happening even quicker," Thomas said.
Thomas was in the UAE for the Think Science Fair. He has been in the country in the previous years, where he did a tour in a number of UAE schools, sharing tales of his time in Space and answering questions.
sarwat@khaleejtimes.com
Scares and special memories
Don Thomas was an astronaut for almost two decades, however, there were moments where he thought he wouldn't make it back to planet Earth.
"All four of my missions, when we were launching, there is a piece of you that's scared. I think you should be scared, sitting on a rocket with explosive fuel," Thomas said.
"During launch, a little piece of me is scared. One moment, I experienced on one of my flights, we had just done an engine burn and we were returning to earth, and one of my crew members said the word 'I smell smoke'. Smelling smoke in space is really bad. You can't open the windows in the space or let it out. We were falling back to Earth, so the timing couldn't have been worst.
"Nothing bad happened, but in those 15 to 20 seconds, when I heard those words, it's the most scared I have ever been in my life. I didn't know whether I would make it back to earth again."
Although there has been a few scares, Thomas also remembers his first day in space where he saw a comet set. He said that day went on to become his most memorable day in space.
He said: "I remember it was my first day in space and I see the comet after the sunset. I watch it for about 10 to 15 seconds, it got lower and lower at the lim of the earth and I was just staring at the blackness of space and I said 'wow, I've just seen a comet set'.
"I've seen sunsets and moonsets, but to watch a comet set was really special."
sarwat@khaleejtimes.com
4 UAE teachers to get US space training
Teaching often has the best impact when it goes beyond the four walls of a classroom and software and aerospace solutions firm, Honeywell, is keen on ensuring that happens.
The American company is sending four UAE-based teachers to take part in the Honeywell Educators at Space Academy (HESA) held at the US Space and Rocket Centre in June.
The four teachers were honoured at a special Flight Suit Ceremony at this year's Think Science Connect fair at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Buthaina Abandah from Applied Technology High School, Abu Dhabi, Lara Chouman from Al Ittihad Private School in Dubai, Ghaleb Wahbi from Al Khaleej National School in Dubai and Siji Sudhakaran from the Abu Dhabi Indian School Branch 1 in Al Wathba are the lucky teachers.
Created by Honeywell and the USSRC in 2004, HESA is a scholarship programme that inspires middle school math and science teachers to become more effective educators in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).
During the five-day, all expenses paid training, educators learn how to reinvigorate their classrooms with ideas, lessons, and other materials to create an unforgettable learning experience for the next generation of scientists in the UAE.
The four UAE-based teachers were recognised at the ceremony by Don Thomas, Nasa astronaut (retired); Dr Deborah Barnhart, CEO of the US Space & Rocket Center; Kerry Kennedy, director of Honeywell Global Corporate Citizenship, as well as representatives from Emirates Foundation.
Since 2004, more than 3 million students have been reached and inspired by 2,776 math and science HESA alumni from 56 countries.
Sarwat@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai