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At a time when space exploration has become a competition between world powers, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) plans to send an unmanned probe to Mars by 2021, which will be the Arab world's first mission to another planet.
A new UAE Space Agency will be created to coordinate the UAE's growing space technology sector and to supervise the mission. The mission will be led by Emiratis and will expand the nation's human capital through knowledge transfer from international partners, as well as increasing human knowledge about space exploration and distant planets.
"The UAE Mars probe represents the Islamic world's entry into the era of space exploration. We will prove that we are capable of delivering new scientific contributions to humanity," UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan said in a statement Wednesday.
Do you think this is likely? I do not know of any country which was able to launch such missions in only 7 years.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by cykros on Thursday July 17 2014, @01:33PM
While it may be true that no other country has done this much in so little time so far, it's important not to rule out how much time is saved by learning from the mistakes of others, as well as from their successes. How much of that data is directly shared and how much is held a little closer to the chest, otoh, is something I'm not particularly aware of, but I assume they'll at least be able to shave off a good chunk of time regardless.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Ethanol-fueled on Thursday July 17 2014, @01:49PM
In other news, the newly-formed UAE space agency has partnered with the North Korean military to develop a delivery vehicle capable of reaching Mars.
...T-minus 3...2...1...Liftoff! And, SPLAT! Alalalalalalalala! 72 virgins to all brave astronauts! Allahu Akhbar! Camels!
(Score: 3, Funny) by Tork on Thursday July 17 2014, @06:58PM
You know you're scraping the bottom of the barrel when you have to resort to stereotype comedy that's even less sophisticated than South Park or Family Guy would put on the air.
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 3, Funny) by Jeremiah Cornelius on Thursday July 17 2014, @07:24PM
GOOD COMEDY?
OK, find the Qibla [wikipedia.org], and point to the Kaaba, in Mecca, from Meridiani Planum [wikipedia.org].
Degrees of precision? Off by an angstrom, and you focus prayers on Arcturus or the interstellar void.
You're betting on the pantomime horse...