Cash boost for Bahrain-UK space project

UK Space Agency has invested another £1.4 million into project that aims to measure carbon emissions from spacecraft over the Gulf

A satellite photo of Bahrain and Qatar. A joint project between Bahrain and Britain is among 11 the UK Space Agency says will be given more funding. Photo: Sultan Al Neyadi / X

A joint project between Britain and Bahrain that aims to measure carbon emissions in the Gulf from space received a second cash injection on Monday.

The project, which involves the Bahrain National Space Science Agency and the University of Leicester in the UK, as well as British company Geospatial Insight and YBA Kanoo Group in Bahrain, aims to create a new capability to enable the monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions in the Gulf region from a small spacecraft.

“We are delighted to have secured the funding and look forward to working with the University of Leicester and our Gulf region partners to advance the technology and business models,” Dave Fox, chief executive at Geospatial Insight, told The National.

The UK Space Agency on Monday announced the project will receive £1.4 million, having received initial funding of £75,000 last year.

The project was one of 11 the UK Space Agency said would be given extra funding, as they showcase “the best of UK space expertise on the international stage”.

The £13 million funding boost was announced on the opening day of the 39th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs in the US.

“The projects supported by our International Bilateral Fund champion the best of British innovation, while strengthening our ties with the wider space community,” said Dr Paul Bate, chief executive of the UK Space Agency.

“Together we can break new ground, further our understanding of the universe and use the vast power of space to protect and benefit lives on Earth.”

The surface of Mars. Some of the projects that receive funding from the UK Space Agency could revolutionise the ability to travel to the Red Planet. Photo: Nasa

Aside from the Bahrain project with the University of Leicester, the other 10 schemes include one that will look at creating safe and efficient nuclear fission capabilities in space and a venture between British and Australian companies and universities that aims to develop a space-based agricultural complex for growing plants in low and zero gravity.

“The UK is home to some of the brightest minds in space science, aerospace engineering and an entrepreneurial commercial space sector,” said UK Space Minister Andrew Griffith.

“It’s no wonder the world wants to collaborate with Britain when it comes to space.

“I am delighted that today we have been able to support new space collaborations with private organisations from countries like the US, Australia, Canada, India and Singapore.”

See how the Middle East looks from space – in pictures

On November 26 2020, an astronaut captured this photo of the northwest coastline of Saudi Arabia, home to 260 coral reef species. The image shows the Red Sea on the right, a lagoon in the middle and the coral reef on the left side. All photos courtesy of Earth Observatory at Nasa

UAE’s first astronaut in space, Hazza Al Mansouri, captured this photo of the Emirates during his eight-day trip on the International Space Station. Courtesy: Hazza Al Mansouri Twitter

Kuwait photographed from space during the night. The Arabian Gulf is on the top right side and the Kuwait Bay is on the left.

Thunderclouds march past the Al Qassim region of central Saudi Arabia on April 13, 2016. Nasa reported the storm clouds were likely related to the heavy rainfall and flooding in Yemen during that time.

An astronaut captured a photograph of the port city in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 2017.

The Arabian Gulf photographed from the space station

A dusty atmosphere over central Saudi Arabia in 2014. The dunes in Riyadh are visible from space

Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly captured an image of Dubai’s lights during the night. Courtesy: Scott Kelly Twitter

A dust plume surging over the Red Sea and reaching Saudi Arabia in 2013. The Nile River is visible on the top left side of the image.

Turkish city of Istanbul at night

The Pearl-Qatar, a man-made island in Doha, is visible from space. An astronaut captured this photograph in 2017

The city of Madinah in Saudi Arabia

The Levant region captured from space

Es Safa, a basaltic volcanic field in southeast of Damascus, Syria, photographed from space in 2010. It is the largest volcanic field on the Arabian tectonic plate.

Port of Aden in Yemen

The Strait of Tiran, which separates the Gulf of Aqaba from the Red Sea, captured from space in 2013

The southeastern margin of the Empty Quarter, also known as the Ar Rub’ al Khali, in Oman. An astronaut took this photo in 2011

Lake Dukan, shaped almost like a Christmas tree, in Iraq photographed from space in 2018.

A dust storm over the Arabian gulf in August, 2008

Damascus, Syria, photographed from space in 2013