Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre wins Inspiration Award at World Space Risk Forum 2016

The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, MBRSC, won the Inspiration Award at the World Space Risk Forum, WSRF, 2016, for its achievements in space science and space industry.

WSRF is a global event that brings together experts in the space industry from around the world.

Salem Al Marri, Assistant Director-General for Scientific and Technical Affairs at MBRSC, received the award from Laurent Lemaire, organiser and host of the WSRF and Chairman and CEO of Elseco, an insurance underwriting specialist in space, aviation and energy sectors.

"Hosting the World Space Risk Forum in the UAE contributes to reinforcing our country’s position in the global space industry. The forum offers a platform to exchange experiences and practices, promote knowledge transfer, and create co-operation channels between decision makers involved in the space sector from around the world," said Yousuf Al Shaibani, Director-General of MBRSC.

Al Shaibani thanked the forum for bestowing the Inspiration Award, saying that the centre’s achievements would be lauded by many countries. "In a short period of time, we have managed to achieve a great deal, including the launch of two satellites into space, building the first Remote Sensing Earth Observation Satellite using only Emirati expertise - KhalifaSat, and beginning work on the first Arab mission to explore outer space - with the Hope probe," he added.

"The UAE’s space sector has a very ambitious strategy based on innovation, creativity, excellence and investment in human resources. We are fully confident and hopeful that we will make qualitative development and advancement in the UAE space projects in line with the Centre's strategic plans, which aim to fulfil the aspirations of our leadership to make the UAE one of the leading countries in the space science industry by 2021," Al Shaibani said.

Al Marri highlighted the achievements of the UAE space programme over the past 10 years. He also talked about the risks associated with space missions, and stressed the need for proactive and operational plans to assess and mitigate risks by government institutions and agencies launching space projects and missions.

"By giving all countries and organisations equal opportunities to participate in the space industry, we can contribute to the growth of space technology. MBRSC continues to promote co-operation and co-ordination with the global space community in order to develop international frameworks to regulate space activities, with a view to building a sustainable space sector," he said.

Eng. Adnan Al Rais, Deputy Project Manager of the Emirates Mars Mission, also attended one of the sessions and briefed participants about the most ambitious project of the country. He highlighted the mission’s objectives and how one begins to gather data on Mars, before sharing it with the global space science community that has a keen interest in the Red Planet.

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