A series of megaprojects are set to invigorate the space sector in the coming decade, a top industry official has said.
Dr Alice Bunn, international director of the UK Space Agency, said the upcoming launch of the James Webb Space Telescope and a replacement for the International Space Station were huge undertakings only made possible by nations working together.
The vice chair of the Council of the European Space Agency also said Emirati astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri’s journey to ISS was “incredibly well received” by the sector and showed what small nations can achieve.
We're talking about what will become the replacement to the International Space Station - that will be a global effort
"It's really impressive what UAE has been able to achieve as a relatively late entrant into the space sector," she told The National at the World Economic Forum's Global Future Councils meeting in Dubai on Sunday.
“They made some big promises - and they’ve delivered on those big promises.”
The James Webb – an enormous satellite of gold mirrors made to replace the famous Hubble telescope – is scheduled for launch in March 2021 and cost about $10 billion to develop.
Meanwhile, the $150 billion ISS is set for decommissioning in 2028. A replacement is under discussion but is expected to cost tens if not hundreds of billions of dollars.
“Space is still expensive - you can’t get around it - but there are really two classes of missions emerging,” said Dr Bunn.
“You still have these hugely important scientific infrastructure missions. We’re talking about what will become the replacement to the International Space Station - that will be a global effort.
“And next year we’ll see the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, the follow on for Hubble, which will enable incredible capabilities.
“Those massive science infrastructure projects will always have a very wide base of multinational support.”
But the cost of smaller space missions is being cut every year as scientists find ever-cheaper ways of reaching space.
India's Chandrayaan-2 mission to the moon, which although ended in failure in September, cost just $140 million, a fraction of any previous space mission of its kind, while satellites are becoming increasingly cost-effective, including some launched by high-altitude planes instead of space rockets.
“At the other end of the scale we are seeing costs coming down. When we’re looking at satellites missions, earth observation, satellite, communications… costs [are] coming down," said Dr Bunn.
“And is it becoming much more accessible for new countries to join the space sector.”
Those smaller space nations like UAE and India are either launching their own satellites or using the facilities of other bigger space nations like Japan. The UAE is scheduled to send its Mars probe Hope to the Red Planet in July 2021, from the Tanegashima Space Centre in Japan.
Space industry officials are keen to point out that together with the widespread fascination for human space travel, the sector is also responsible for producing tangible, real-life benefits that can improve lives.
“The challenge going forward is… how to shine a light equally on those down-to-earth benefits of our space programmes - enabling communications, environmental benefits,” she said.
“Ninety nine per cent of the data you need to generate an accurate forecast is from space. Over 50 per cent of the climate variables we need to even understand climate can only be measured from space.
“Then, equally things like navigation. The ESA doesn't yet have our own navigation system. We’ve had an assessment that if we were to lose the ability to use global satellite navigation systems - the US GPS system - we would incur losses of $1 billion a day.
"So it’s extraordinary. Companies’ economic frameworks are very, very dependent on satellite capability already."
One intended consequence of Maj Al Mansouri’s space mission is the hope that bright young pupils and students might consider a career in science and tech – becoming the brains behind the missions.
"It's such a powerful tool. We had our own astronaut four years ago and the uptake in [UK] schools, the uptake in public interest was absolutely extraordinary," Dr Bunn said, in reference to Tim Peake, the first British astronaut to walk in space.
Governments across the globe are encouraging their young people to pursue skilled-based jobs – often seen as hard science and maths – to prepare themselves for the future. But in reality, Dr Bunn, who has a PhD in metallurgy, said there were many other opportunities out there.
“The challenge for us is to make the most of the fact that there is an astronaut and to showcase that capability, but to also to convey the message that there are hundreds and thousands of jobs that sit behind every astronaut,” she said.
“Usually science, technology, engineering, mathematics is an important background, but equally geography – you think about earth observation - some of the telecommuncations areas, many disciplines of engineering are very important for space programmes.
“So it’s that message that yes there’s a very high-profile figurehead in that astronaut, but there are hundreds and thousands of job opportunities that sit behind that astronaut.”
The%C2%A0specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2-litre%204-cylinder%20mild%20hybrid%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7-speed%20S%20tronic%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E265hp%20%2F%20195kW%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20370Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh260%2C000%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The five pillars of Islam
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%20four-cyl%20turbo%20%2B%20mild%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E204hp%20at%205%2C800rpm%20%2B23hp%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E320Nm%20at%201%2C800rpm%20%2B205Nm%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E9-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7.3L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2FDecember%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh205%2C000%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
SQUADS
South Africa:
JP Duminy (capt), Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wkt), AB de Villiers, Robbie Frylinck, Beuran Hendricks, David Miller, Mangaliso Mosehle (wkt), Dane Paterson, Aaron Phangiso, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Tabraiz Shamsi
Bangladesh
Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Imrul Kayes, Liton Das (wkt), Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (wkt), Nasir Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Shafiul Islam, Soumya Sarkar, Taskin Ahmed
Fixtures
Oct 26: Bloemfontein
Oct 29: Potchefstroom
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
The specs
Price: From Dh180,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged and supercharged in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 320hp @ 5,700rpm
Torque: 400Nm @ 2,200rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.7L / 100km
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil