The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) has signed a Memorandum of Intent (MoI) with European Space Agency (ESA) towards the establishment of a long-term collaboration between the two entities in the areas of human spaceflight and exploration activities.
The MoI was signed by Salem AlMarri, Deputy Director-General, MBRSC and David Parker, Director, Human and Robotic Exploration Programmes, ESA on the sidelines of the International Astronautical Congress, the global space event, being held at the World Trade Centre in Dubai.
The areas of cooperation will be based on the identification of common objectives, with comparative advantages, benefits and activities of mutual interest in robotic and human exploration and will be implemented jointly.
MBRSC has had a long term collaborative partnership with ESA, cooperating on various projects including the UAE Astronaut Programme, and supporting UAE’s mission to the ISS, covering ground segment services for the establishment of a UAE “Operations Support Centre” in Dubai, as well as ground support training, among others.
Considering the respective current and planned space activities of ESA and MBRSC, both entities share similar exploration objectives, especially concerning low-Earth orbit, the Moon and its vicinity and Mars. Building on these experiences, ESA and MBRSC intend to bring their existing relationships to a broader level by working towards the agreed areas of cooperation as mentioned in the MoI.
Salem AlMarri said: “We are pleased to have signed this agreement and together with ESA we will build on our capabilities to forge a critical partnership that will pave the way for the future of space exploration and research. Our work together will enable scalability, resilience and most importantly deliver unparalleled observations of space, research, and technology for the betterment of humankind.”
ESA Director on Space Exploration David Parker, added: “The signature today marks the second step in a longer-term joint journey between the MBRSC and ESA.”
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