Dubai is preparing to host the International Astronautical Congress in October, the world’s largest space conference that has taken place in dozens of cities annually since 1950.
This year will be the first time an Arab country hosts the congress, an indication of the UAE’s progress and achievements in space exploration.
The 72nd International Astronautical Congress (IAC) is scheduled to take place at the World Trade Centre from October 25 to October 29.
“Having the UAE host the IAC after just a decade of space activity is a matter of pride, and an attestation of our commitment to keeping up with the latest technological developments and innovations,” said Yousuf Hamad Al Shaibani, director general of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai.
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Hazza Al Mansouri, first Emirati man in space, wears a 130 kilogram-heavy extravehicular activities suit for spacewalk training. All photos courtesy of Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre -
The suit is worn during spacewalks outside of the International Space Station and for training at the world's largest indoor pool at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas -
Located at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab (NBL), the indoor pool is 12-metres deep and has 2.4 million litres of water. It helps simulate microgravity and allows astronauts to work on a replica of the International Space Station placed underwater -
Sultan Al Neyadi, part of the UAE astronaut corps, wears his EVA suit for spacewalk training in the indoor pool -
Sultan Al Neyadi puts his helmet on for spacewalk training under water. Mr Al Neyadi was one of two people selected from 4,022 candidates to become the first Emirati astronauts. Mbrsc -
Mr Al Neyadi prepares to go underwater -
Mr Al Neyadi goes underwater with his EVA suit on for spacewalk training -
Astronauts can spend up to 10 hours per day at the bottom of the pool to practise maintenance work on the space station model and refine spacewalk techniques. -
An Emirati astronaut underwater, refining his spacewalk technique. Performing a spacewalk is an extremely dangerous task and requires practise and skill. In 2013, Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano nearly drowned when water leaked into his helmet during a spacewalk. In 2019, Nasa astronaut Chris Cassidy’s wrist mirror broke off, releasing thousands of pieces of space junk -
The Emirati astronauts are training for long-haul space missions at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas. They are also training on T-38 jets, which helps a pilot experience seven G-forces because of the speed. It can fly up to Mach 1.6 and 12,000 metres high – that is 3,000m higher than average airliners.
IAC will involve heads of space agencies, leaders, policy and decision makers, astronauts, scientists, engineers, researchers, students and young professionals.
The congress will feature themed plenary events, keynote lectures, discussions, workshops, a networking forum and a space science exhibition.
“The congress will accelerate the growth of the space sector in the region and will also act as a knowledge enrichment platform for the youth in the fields of space science and technology,” said Salem Al Marri, the assistant director-general for scientific and technical affairs at the space centre.
The UAE's space programme is leading the way in the Arab world. The Hope probe is in orbit around Mars and an Emirati astronaut has gone into space.
The UAE is building the Arab world’s first lunar rover and has it recruited the first Arab female astronaut.
Pascale Ehrenfreund, president of the International Astronautical Federation, the entity that oversees the congress, said it was delighted to host the 72nd event in an Arab country.
“We look forward to sharing ideas and networking with like-minded people and peers from the region and the world. We remain committed to the exchange of knowledge and expertise to find solutions in matters relating to space and humanity,” he said.
In 2017, the UAE had won the bid to host the IAC 2020. As a result of coronavirus safety restrictions, the event last year took place online.
The 2019 event was hosted in Washington.
To attend the IAC in Dubai, registrations can be made online.
It will be a busy time in the UAE this year, as Dubai also prepares to host much-anticipated World Expo, scheduled to begin on October 1.
UAE's lunar mission - in pictures
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An artist's impression of the UAE's lunar rover called Rashid. -
Dr Hamad Al Marzooqi, project manager of the Emirates Lunar Mission at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
An artist's impression of iSpace's Hakuto-Reboot lunar lander. It will carry UAE's Rashid rover to the surface of the Moon in 2022. -
The UAE aims to land the Rashid rover on the near side of the Moon due to its smoother surface. -
The far side of the Moon remains largely unexplored, but Nasa is turning its focus back to the lunar surface. -
The HAKUTO-R lander, which will deliver the UAE's Rashid rover to the lunar surface in 2022, is now in final stages of assembly. -
The ispace team completed the assembly of the lander's structure thermal model in April. Courtesy: ispace -
The final assembly of the lander is being carried out in co-operation with the Ariane Group GmbH at the Ariane Group facility in Lampoldshausen, Germany. Courtesy: ispace -
Using a lander and rocket that is already available helps Emirati engineers and scientists get quicker and easier access to space. Courtesy: ispace -
The initial concept design of the Rashid rover. Courtesy: MBRSC -
Rashid rover's thermal imager will analyse the Moon's properties through thermal energy. Courtesy: MBRSC -
The Langmuir probes on the rover will analyse the lunar surface charge and electric fields. Courtesy: MBRSC -
One of the rover's two high-resolution optical imagers that will take photos of the Moon. Courtesy: MBRSC
