ABU DHABI // The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre is to be profiled by US broadcaster CNN on Monday evening.
Each week since the start of this month, The Connectors series has reported on how some of the world’s most creative teams turn an idea into reality.
This week’s instalment will feature scientists from the space centre discussing the UAE’s ambition to launch the Arab world’s first Mars probe.
One of those featured said appearing on a show with such global reach was the perfect way to illustrate how the UAE is a player in the space industry.
“Countries will be able to see we’re not just an economy dependent on oil,” said Salem Al Marri, assistant director general of scientific and technology affairs at the centre.
“UAE is diversifying its economy – it has been happening for the past 10 to 15 years.”
Mr Al Marri said the exposure would lead to more opportunities to work with countries in the space sector. “The more that other nations understand what we are doing in space, the more it will further avenues of cooperation,” he said.
The UAE Space Agency is a partner of America’s National Aeronautics and Space Administration and other space agencies of Britain, China, Japan and Italy.
The Connectors will be broadcast every Monday at 7pm on CNN International.
tsubaihi@thenational.ae
