Abu Dhabi: Masdar Institute of Science and Technology at Masdar City in Abu Dhabi is supporting the UAE’s Mars mission through research, human resource development, and infrastructure.
The institute has incorporated Master’s Concentration in Space Systems and Technology in its master’s programmes.
The space concentration, which is sponsored by the Mubadala-owned satellite communications company Yahsat and global leader in aerospace and defence technologies Orbital ATK, is offered in seven of the institute’s master’s programmes.
This specialised advanced educational programme focused on space systems and technology is the first in the region. It was launched last year to support the UAE’s Mars mission. This year eleven students from different backgrounds are in the programme, and more students are expected to join when the new academic year begins in September.
Some Masdar Institute students received training from global technology giant Lockheed Martin’s Centre for Innovation and Security Solutions (CISS) at Masdar City as part of a collaboration between both organisations.
The UAE Space Agency also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Lockheed Martin in June to launch a training programme in space fundamentals for young Emirati professionals.
The agency, which supervises the nation’s ambitious Mars mission, recently celebrated its second anniversary. The UAE space probe is expected to blast off towards Mars in 2021. Sending an unmanned spacecraft to Mars will make the UAE the first Arab country and one of only nine countries with space programmes to explore Mars.
