UAE astronauts could make up the “ideal first crew” of a major new commercial space station project, as private companies negotiate for positions in the emerging markets.
One such company, Vast Space, has unveiled plans to develop two space stations in low-Earth orbit: Haven-1, a commercial outpost, and Haven-2, which could serve as a potential replacement for the International Space Station.
The California-based company is also bidding for a coveted Nasa programme called the Private Astronaut Mission. If successful, it could secure seats on SpaceX rockets for two missions to the ISS before its retirement at the end of the decade.
These seats could then be sold to nations like the UAE or Saudi Arabia, which have astronaut programmes but lack independent launch capabilities. The Emirates is considered a crucial customer base for the company, Max Haot, chief executive of Vast Space, told The National.
“It’s the best way to demonstrate to Nasa our credibility if we work with other nations,” Mr Haot said at the Abu Dhabi Space Debate this week. “We are so excited about how serious the UAE is and how developed its human space flight programme is. If we think about our ideal first crew for Haven-1, our number one goal is sovereign nations, and, obviously, the UAE is one.”
A changing sector
Vast Space faces stiff competition, however, with Houston-based Axiom Space having a similar business model and a head start in the market. It is also developing a replacement station for the ISS and has successfully launched three private missions. Last year, it sent two Saudi astronauts to the ISS through the PAM programme.
The UAE has also partnered with Axiom Space before, securing a seat for Dr Sultan Al Neyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, on a six-month mission to the ISS last year.
“The rumours are that there will be at least two more private flights. We hope the first will be in 2026 and another in 2027, and we’re going to compete for both,” said Mr Haot. “No one knows if there will be more after that. Some people believe these might be the last private opportunities to the ISS.”
As the station enters its final years, a new era of space exploration is unfolding. Government agencies are focusing on Moon and Mars missions, leaving the commercialisation of low-Earth orbit to private companies. This shift has prompted several firms, including Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin and Voyager Space, to announce plans for space stations.
Vast Space aims to stand out by launching Haven-1 “as fast as possible,” Mr Haot said, to demonstrate the company’s operational capability and earn the trust of Nasa and other potential customers. “We are on track with our plan to launch it before the end of next year,” he said.
How ambitious is the UAE's space programme?
With the ISS set to retire by the end of the decade, commercial stations will play a critical role in maintaining a human presence in low-Earth orbit. This is particularly important for the UAE, which has sent two astronauts to the ISS and aims to launch missions every three to five years.
Access to the ISS has been limited for non-partner nations, making it challenging for countries to secure long-term missions. The UAE overcame this hurdle by partnering with Nasa, enabling a six-month mission it secured through Axiom for Dr Al Neyadi.
The country is also funding and developing an airlock module for Nasa's Gateway, a planned lunar-orbiting station. In exchange, it would send an Emirati to the Gateway on a future flight.
Salem Al Marri, director general of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, shared the UAE’s ambitions during the Abu Dhabi Space Debate. He also revealed continuing discussions with Saudi Arabia about collaborative missions.
“Our discussions were that they have a very capable group of four astronauts, and we have a corps of four astronauts,” said Mr Al Marri. “One thing we can do is collaborative visits through joint programmes.”
Saudi astronauts Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali Al Qarni joined Dr Al Neyadi aboard the ISS for eight days last April.
The UAE’s astronaut corps includes Hazza Al Mansouri, the country’s first astronaut in space, as well as Nora Al Matrooshi and Mohammed Al Mulla, who have completed Nasa’s basic training. Saudi Arabia’s astronaut corps includes Mariam Fardous and Ali Al-Ghamdi.
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Four-day collections of TOH
Day Indian Rs (Dh)
Thursday 500.75 million (25.23m)
Friday 280.25m (14.12m)
Saturday 220.75m (11.21m)
Sunday 170.25m (8.58m)
Total 1.19bn (59.15m)
(Figures in millions, approximate)
UAE Premiership
Results
Dubai Exiles 24-28 Jebel Ali Dragons
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 43-27 Dubai Hurricanes
Fixture
Friday, March 29, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Jebel Ali Dragons, The Sevens, Dubai
If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
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SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.
Based: Riyadh
Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany
Founded: September, 2020
Number of employees: 70
Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions
Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds
Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices
THE LOWDOWN
Romeo Akbar Walter
Rating: 2/5 stars
Produced by: Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment
Directed by: Robby Grewal
Cast: John Abraham, Mouni Roy, Jackie Shroff and Sikandar Kher
The biog
Family: Parents and four sisters
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing at American University of Sharjah
A self-confessed foodie, she enjoys trying out new cuisines, her current favourite is the poke superfood bowls
Likes reading: autobiographies and fiction
Favourite holiday destination: Italy
Posts information about challenges, events, runs in other emirates on the group's Instagram account @Anagowrunning
Has created a database of Emirati and GCC sportspeople on Instagram @abeermk, highlight: Athletes
Apart from training, also talks to women about nutrition, healthy lifestyle, diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure
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