The UAE has set itself on an ambitious path to lead the global space race.
Dubai - The challenge is the first project of the newly established Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Accelerated Research.
Published: Sat 10 Feb 2018, 4:00 PM
Last updated: Sun 11 Feb 2018, 4:25 PM
The UAE has launched a Space Settlement Challenge, a dedicated Dh2 million seed grant fund that supports ambitious projects to explore the future of human space habitation. The challenge aims to attract brilliant minds from all around the world regardless of discipline, background or origin.
The Dh2 million fund will be used to bankroll proposals that explore novel ideas and develop new business models for living and working in space. "The challenge, registrations for which opened on Saturday, will solicit project proposals from diverse disciplines through a next-generation platform called Guaana, whose innovative model dramatically reduces the time and effort required to fund seed ideas," said the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) in a Press statement.
The challenge is the first project of the newly established Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Accelerated Research.
Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of the DFF, said: "The UAE has set itself on an ambitious path to lead the global space race, establishing the first city on Mars as per the 2117 Mars Project. Space research is the logical next step in humanity's search for knowledge and survival, and an advanced means to preserve human cultures, societies and economies.
"The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Settlement Challenge we are launching today is designed to provide support for creative minds, unconventional ideas, innovative designs and research."
Application is open from February 10, 2018, for a month on: www.mbrspacechallenge.ae.
Space challenge explained
The space challenge is composed of three categories
>Space settlement: It aims to develop plans for locations that could support a thriving sustainable settlement in space accommodating at least 100 people. It explores matters like construction automation, power, food, water, heating and cooling, all the while taking the human factor into consideration.
>Terraforming and space ecology: It looks into creating livable long-term environments, formulating strategies for the responsible terraforming of off-planet bodies near the moon, mars, asteroids and other orbital habitats.
>Economics, business model and governance: It seeks to develop business plans for optimal economics and resource utilisation, writing scenarios that identify private-sector partners interested in conducting commercial activities in space. The challenge also seeks to ensure good governance by proposing national policies that promote society's awareness of peaceful settlement in space.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com
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