UAE sets out vision for space travel to be shared with the world

Emirates leads its first meeting of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in Vienna

The Hope probe was built by 150 Emirati engineers, researchers and scientists. Photo: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre

The first image of Mars taken by the UAE's Hope probe, which arrived at the Red Planet on February 9. EPA

Nora Al Matrooshi the first Arab woman to train as an astronaut. Photo: MBRSC

Hazza Al Mansouri, left, Nora Al Matrooshi, Mohammed Al Mulla and Sultan Al Neyadi together for the first time at Nasa's Johnson Space Centre in Houston. Photo: MBRSC

Sarah al Amiri at the launch of a new project to explore the main asteroid belt, with a Venus fly-by, from 2028. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs / Dubai Media Office

Ministers and VIPs listen as Sarah Al Amiri sets out details of the five-year mission. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs / Dubai Media Office

The final prototype of the UAE's Rashid lunar rover. Photo: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre

Emirati engineers test parts of the Rashid rover, which will be sent to the Moon in 2022. Photo: MBRSC

Blue Origin's rocket New Shepard blasts off carrying Star Trek actor William Shatner, 90, on billionaire Jeff Bezos company's second suborbital tourism flight, October 13, 2021. Reuters

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai on a visit to the 72nd International Astronautical Congress at Dubai World Trade Centre on October 25, 2021. Sheikh Mohammed was accompanied, among others, by Emirati astronauts Hazza Al Mansouri, Sultan Al Neyadi and graduates from the second batch of the UAE Astronaut Programme, Nora Al Matrooshi and Mohammed Al Mulla. Wam

The opening ceremony for the International Astronautical Congress took place on October 25 at Dubai World Trade Centre. Photo: Dubai Media Office

The UAE set out its vision for space travel to be shared with the world after leading its first session of a long-standing UN gathering.

The Emirates was recently selected to lead the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, with Omran Sharaf, the Emirati engineer who guided its successful Mars mission, serving as its director for 2022 and next year.

At the 65th session of the meeting, which concluded in Vienna, Austria, on Friday, Mr Sharaf stressed the need for the international community to join to develop strategies for the long-term sustainability of space projects.

In his inaugural speech, he spoke of the UN body's central role in regulating safety in space.

Mr Sharaf welcomed Angola, Bangladesh, Panama, Slovenia and Kuwait to the committee, which now has 100 members, as well as the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law, the Square Kilometre Array Observatory and the Lunar Open Corporation, which have been granted observer status.

Mr Sharaf previously represented the UAE on the outer space committee and on the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems.

The peaceful uses committee has been in operation since 1959 and is one of the largest at the UN. It plays an important role, encouraging international co-operation and recommending laws and policies that support space exploration.

Members approved the draft report of the Working Group on Space and Global Health.

Nora Al Matrooshi (left) UAE's first female astronaut, and Mohammed Al Mulla (third to right) completed training on the T-6A aircrafts. Now, they begin training on the T-38 Talon, supersonic jets that help prepare astronauts for spaceflight. Here, they are pictured with their Nasa colleagues, who are also in training. Photo: Anil Menon Instagram

They will begin training in the T-38 Talon jets, which have been used by the US space agency since the 1960s to train its astronauts, achieving supersonic speed and high altitude that create gravitational forces trainees must experience.

Ms Al Matrooshi and Mr Al Mulla are the UAE's newest astronauts. Here, they are pictured flying the T-6 aircraft in Florida. Photo: MBRSC

Ms Al Matrooshi and Mr Al Mulla learn how to fly through a simulator course in Florida. Photo: MBRSC

Ms Al Matrooshi (left) and Mr Al Mulla (second to left) at a simulation flying ground school with their Nasa colleagues. Photo: Anil Menon Instagram

UAE's newest astronauts visited the Florida's Kennedy Space Centre to see the Space Launch System, world's most powerful rocket that will launch astronauts to the Moon one day, roll out onto the launch pad. Photo: Mr Al Mulla Instagram

Ms Al Matrooshi (second to left) and Mr Al Mulla (second to right) with their Nasa colleagues in the US. Photo: Anil Menon Instagram

UAE's four astronauts at the Expo 2020 Dubai last year. Photo: Mohammed AL Mulla Instagram

Mohammed Al Mulla, UAE's newest astronauts, in a space sleeping bag. Photo: Mr Al Mulla Instagram

Ms Al Matrooshi and Mr Al Mulla admire the views of the Space Launch System rocket at a launch pad in Florida's Kennedy Space Centre. Photo: Mr Al Mulla Instagram

The UAE was praised for its “positive and moderating role” in bringing together different opinions of members, state news agency Wam reported.

Salem Al Qubaisi, Director of the UAE Space Agency, delivered a speech on behalf of the Emirati delegation in which he outlined the UAE's commitment to equal international access to outer space.

He said the Emirates aimed to encourage private sector support for space and attract local and international investment to develop its plans for the future.

The UAE became the first Arab country to journey to Mars with the Hope probe in February 2021.

The craft beams back data from its orbit of the Red Planet.

The UAE's space programme is continuing to broaden its horizons, with sights set on landing a rover on the Moon in October and further astronaut missions planned.