Today's Edition
AMNA AL KETBI (DUBAI)
The UAE is participating in the development and construction of a module on NASA’s Lunar Gateway Station alongside the US, Japan, Canada and the EU.
The role of the UAE revolves around the construction of the lunar space station’s Crew and Science Airlock, a key component facilitating a safe environment for astronauts and acting as an entry and exit point for missions and astronauts travelling to the Moon’s surface from the lunar station.
In remarks to Aletihad, Engineer Salem Humaid Al Marri, Director General of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) said that the UAE’s participation in the development and construction of the module embodies the nation’s commitment to enhancing global partnerships for the benefit of science and humanity.
“The project ensures progress, prosperity for all, and demonstrates global partners’ confidence in the UAE due to the success of its previous space projects,” Al Marri said.
Four astronauts have undergone diverse and intensive training and are ready to go to the International Space Station, which is expected to reach the end of its operational life in the next five years, he added, noting that the focus in the coming period will be on the lunar space station, and astronauts will undergo specific training for this mission.
Many opportunities will be available for national companies to participate in manufacturing various parts of the unit by 2030, according to the MBRSC Director General.
Al Marri explained that the station’s size is estimated to be half the size of a football field, consisting of large parts ranging from eight to nine sections.
Each participating country will manufacture a part, and the UAE’s role revolves around manufacturing the lunar space station’s Crew and Science Airlock. The Airlock is 10 metres long with a width of four metres, and weighs 10 tonnes.
The UAE provides a knowledge transfer programme aimed at training Emirati scientists to build this unit, ensuring that astronauts in the UAE have the opportunity to reach the lunar space station.
Elaborating further, Al Marri said that intensive training programmes with global partners will be conducted in the coming period regarding the mission.
By 2030, the “Emirates Gateway” will be launched aboard the largest American rocket, he said. Subsequently, preparations will be made to launch the first Arab and Emirati astronaut into lunar orbit.
As for the development of the Airlock development, Al Marri said that it involves five stages: planning; design; qualification process; flight preparation; and the operations stage.
The planning stage involves determining the objectives, strategies, and project partners for the module. The second stage, the design phase, sees development of designs and detailed specifications of the unit’s components in order to be assembled.
The third stage includes the qualification process, involving the strict selection and qualification of components for the module to ensure reliability and safety. The fourth stage is the launch phase, which involves preparing and launching space components, integrating them into the lunar space station. The final stage is the operational phase, during which the team at the MBRSC will be responsible for the operational processes of the unit, ensuring its functionality and safety.
