World will one day see an Emirati on Moon, says Nasa

Abu Dhabi - The UAE Space Agency, along with seven other countries, has signed Nasa's Artemis Accords for safe and peaceful cooperation in space.

The UAE will one day have an astronaut landing on the surface of the Moon, said Nasa administrator Jim Bridenstine after signing of the Artemis Accords.
The UAE Space Agency, along with seven other countries, has signed Nasa's Artemis Accords for safe and peaceful cooperation in space. The programme includes sending the first woman and the next man to the surface of the Moon in 2024 - the year when the UAE plans to send a rover to the Moon.
Bridenstine praised the country's determination and commitment to explore space. "When we announced that we are going to go to the Moon with the Artemis programme, the UAE was one of the first nations to step up and say 'we want to be with you when you go to the Moon'. I would like to see a UAE astronaut on the surface of the moon one day. There's a lot we have to work through to figure out who's doing what, as far as the contributions specifically from each nation in this effort to go to the Moon sustainably. But I certainly do see a future where the UAE would have an astronaut on the surface of the moon," Bridenstine told Khaleej Times during a virtual briefing.
Emirati astronauts Hazzaa AlMansoori and Sultan Al Neyadi are currently training at Nasa's Johnson Space Centre in Houston for missions to the International Space Station.
Bridenstine added: "The UAE is an example to the world of how fast a country can create a space agency and then have huge impacts for the discovery and exploration of space.
"Here you have a country that five years ago started a space agency for the first time, and now they've got astronauts in training. And in fact, they've already had one astronaut on the International Space Station, and now they've got a mission on its way to Mars. We see the great support that they have from their community, from the nation, and it's just wonderful to see."
'Terrific partnership with the UAE'
Mike N. Gold, acting associate administrator for international and interagency relations at Nasa, acknowledged the UAE's achievements and said: "When we talk about new, emerging space agencies, we mention the UAE. But their accomplishments are so amazing, it's almost difficult to consider the country in that category."
Gold noted that Nasa is looking forward to working with Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology and Chair of the UAE Space Agency.
"This is the first time we've really been working with her, and what a terrific project to move out of the gate with. And it's not only important that we work together substantively but work together in policy. Alphabetically, the UAE and the US sit together at the United Nations, so we're just side by side both in terms of substantive policy and physically. So, we appreciate all of the terrific partnership with the UAE."
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com 

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