Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre welcomes Director General of Roscosmos

Dr. Dmitry Rogozin, Director General of the Russian State Corporation Roscosmos, visited Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre’s (MBRSC) head office in Dubai this week.
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He was welcomed by His Excellency Yousuf Hamad Al Shaibani, Director General of MBRSC. This comes within the framework of the strategic partnership between MBRSC and Roscosmos.

Dr. Rogozin was briefed on MBRSC's programmes and initiatives, notably the launch of KhalifaSat, the first satellite developed 100% in the UAE by a team of highly qualified Emirati engineers from MBRSC, offering competitive services in satellite imagery. Dr. Rogozin was also briefed on the Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) – Hope Mission, which is set to arrive in Mars in 2021 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the founding of the UAE, and the Mars 2117 Project, which aims to establish a human settlement on the Red Planet, with the help of international scientific research groups.

"Our partnership with Roscosmos is an important step in our efforts to promote the space sector in the UAE. This supports the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who called for the establishment of a space sector according to global standards, to contribute to building a knowledge-based economy. A series of tests were conducted, in cooperation with Roscosmos, to select the first Emirati astronauts within the UAE Astronaut Programme, which aims to prepare Emirati astronauts and send them on various scientific missions to the International Space Station (ISS) to be ambassadors of the UAE. These astronauts will conduct advanced scientific research that will serve mankind and contribute to the development of the UAE’s space sector," said Al Shaibani

MBRSC had signed an agreement with Roscosmos, in June 2018, to send the first Emirati astronaut to participate in scientific research in a Russian space mission to ISS. This supports MBRSC’s strategy to establish the UAE's global position in the field of space. Al Shaibani commended the efforts of Roscosmos’ officials, their cooperation with MBRSC, and the provision of facilities for Emirati astronauts during the training and preparation period in Russia. 

"We have just completed discussions with our partners at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre and confirmed details related to Emirati astronaut mission to the ISS, which is part of the  UAE Astronaut Programme. The two Emirati astronauts, Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi, are already training at the Star City. This is an exciting step in the development of our space cooperation with the Arab region,” said Dr. Rogozin