Space agencies from around world offer to train first Emirati astronaut

Dubai - The MBRSC also presented its various space projects at the recently concluded IAC and the centre's preparations to host the congress in Dubai in 2020.

Space agencies from various countries are teaming up with the UAE to help train the country's first Emirati astronaut and allow him to use their facilities at International Space Station (ISS). The agreements were signed on the sidelines of the 69th annual International Astronautical Congress (IAC) by a delegation of Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) and UAE Space Agency. 
The MBRSC also presented its various space projects at the recently concluded IAC and the centre's preparations to host the congress in Dubai in 2020.
In the past three years, more than 25 space cooperation agreements have been signed between the UAE and various countries around the world, Dr Mohammed AlAhbabi, director-general of the UAE Space Agency, revealed. 
However, more partnerships continue to form as the UAE gets closer to sending its first astronaut to space next year.
An agreement was recently signed between the MBRSC and the European Space Agency (ESA) to carry out a special training for the UAE's first Emirati astronaut who will fly to the ISS on April 5, 2019, and return on April 16. 
Salem Humaid Al Marri, head of the UAE Astronaut Programme at the MBRSC, said:
"The agreement will open new channels of communication between the two parties, to enhance bilateral cooperation in space science and share best practices, as well as discuss future opportunities for training Emirati astronauts on long duration flights, within the framework of the UAE Astronaut Programme. It will also provide special training for using the technologies at the Columbus laboratory at the ISS."
The ESA will also offer technical support to the UAE, which will enable the ground team at the MBRSC to communicate with astronauts directly from Dubai. At a later stage of this agreement, the UAE Operations Support Centre will be integrated in the ISS Operations Network.
An agreement was also signed between the UAE Space Agency and Nasa at the IAC, which will allow the UAE astronauts to train at Nasa facilities, launch into space on US commercial spacecraft and provide more opportunities for the utilisation of the International Space Station by Emirati astronauts.
"It's a significant day for @uaespaceagency as we signed an Implementing Agreement with@Nasa, which represents another major milestone in our vision to become a leading spacefaring nation, offering the opportunity for knowledge and close collaboration across a range of projects," Dr AlAhbabi had tweeted from the IAC.
"The document we signed yesterday (October 1) represents another major milestone in our vision to become a leading spacefaring nation, offering the opportunity for knowledge sharing and close collaboration with Nasa with regards to our astronaut programme. With the first Emirati astronaut set to board the ISS in April 2019, this agreement with Nasa will allow the MBRSC and the UAE Space Agency to further build on our human spaceflight experiences."
Discussions for further cooperation between the UAE and space agencies of other countries also took place at the IAC.
A delegation from the UAE Space Agency discussed means of increased cooperation with space agencies from South Africa, Australia, Japan, Sweden and Korea. 
sarwat@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai