Emirates News Agency – Leaders of space agencies from the UAE, Bahrain, Norway, Portugal, the Philippines and Poland discuss strengthening partnerships in the space industry

Tuesday, December 6, 2022 – 6:40 PM

– In a session entitled “Doubling the Impact of the International Space Agencies”.
Leaders of space agencies from the UAE, Bahrain, Norway, Portugal, the Philippines and Poland discuss strengthening partnerships in the space industry.

Salem Al Qubaisi: We must maintain the spirit of cooperation and avoid competition in order to make space more secure and sustainable.
– CEO of the National Space Science Authority in Bahrain: The opportunity is now ripe to find solutions to the sector’s risks and enhance its sustainability.

– Director of NASA: The outcomes of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue will be important and influential to enhance the role of the space sector.
– Director General of the Norwegian Space Agency: The need to develop legislation that guarantees fair and peaceful access to space.
– Head of the Portuguese Space Agency: Cooperation between countries is not an option, but rather an imperative that must be strengthened.
– Director General of the Philippine Space Agency: The need for continuous international discussions to confront irresponsible behavior and promote the space economy.

ABU DHABI, 6th December, 2020 (WAM) — Leaders and heads of space agencies affirmed, during the “Doubling the Impact of the International Space Agencies” session, within the activities of the closing day of the Abu Dhabi Space Dialogue, which is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, “may God protect him,” The importance of developing space-related laws and legislation in a manner that keeps pace with developments in this sector, strengthening international partnerships, focusing on innovation to develop space-related industries, and exploring economic opportunities.
The session touched on the role of space agencies in bringing regarding a major shift in the space environment, how to use the sector as a driving force for the economy and the development of science and technology, in addition to how to transform competition between emerging and existing space agencies into opportunities to benefit from the momentum of the space race.
The session was attended by His Excellency Salem Butti Salem Al Qubaisi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency, Bill Nelson, Director of the US Space Agency (NASA) through a recorded speech, Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Al Asiri, CEO of the National Space Science Authority in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and Christian Holly Hansen, Director General of the Agency. Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA), Ricardo Conde, President of the Portuguese Space Agency, Joel Joseph S. Marciano Jr., Director General of the Philippine Space Agency, Aleksandra Bokala, Director of Strategy and International Cooperation at the Polish Space Agency, and Ryan Duffy, Managing Editor of Payload Space.
Vital projects.
His Excellency Salem Butti Salem Al Qubaisi said that the UAE has important space projects, such as the Emirates Mars Exploration Project, and sending a spacecraft to explore the asteroid belt that will be launched in 2028, stressing that the most important goal of the UAE projects is to enhance national capabilities and competencies and consolidate their expertise, especially as the country It considers investing in people as one of its most important priorities towards shaping the future.
His Excellency Al Qubaisi stressed the importance of cooperation and exchange of experiences between countries that have advanced programs in space, and to provide their expertise to emerging countries in this sector.
He said: “In order to make space more secure and sustainable, the spirit of cooperation must be maintained and away from competition, especially as our world has become intertwined in its common issues and challenges, such as climate issues, food and pollution, leading to preserving natural resources and not wasting them, and therefore no party should act.” Separated from the other, “stressing at the same time that each country has its absolute priority to preserve its interests that serve its national goals, which must be taken into account.”
The Director General of the UAE Space Agency stressed the need for all countries concerned with the space sector to work more effectively and positively, so that new policies are formulated to develop current laws and legislation, which must keep pace with global developments, so that we have new rules that serve everyone and take into account the service of their strategic development goals.
He considered that cooperation and sharing of lessons learned is the way forward for countries to advance in the space sector.
Development plans.
For his part, Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Asiri stated that Bahrain is making great efforts to enhance the role of the space sector within its development plans, as it launched, in cooperation with the UAE, the joint satellite “Daw’a 1”.
Al-Asiri said, “We succeeded in establishing the first space data analysis laboratory that includes 21 entities, so that this helps the private sector and its development requirements and enhances the success of its projects, and we are currently working with many international partners to establish a center that promotes and develops space technologies,” pointing out that the current time is An opportunity to find solutions that face the risks of the sector and enhance its sustainability.

An important opportunity.
For his part, Bill Nelson explained, during his recorded speech, that the “Abu Dhabi Space Dialogue” is an important opportunity for the public and private sectors to anticipate the great development in space and enhance cooperation between them.
The NASA director said that the opportunities resulting from the outcomes of this dialogue will be important and influential to enhance the role of the space sector, support its activities, and enhance it in the required and developed manner.
Nelson touched on NASA’s efforts to support the development of the space sector, including the development of laws to expand and continue the commercial space program, and then create a strong private sector that works side by side with governments to promote space exploration plans.
In turn, Christian Holly Hansen said that Norway attaches great importance to the space sector and the launch of satellites, for its role in developing infrastructure, monitoring climate changes, protecting vegetation, marine wealth, protecting oceans and other uses.
The Director General of the Norwegian Space Agency pointed out the importance of agreements between countries, calling for legislation to ensure fair and peaceful access to space.
Open data.
Ricardo Conde said that cooperation between countries is not an option, but rather an imperative, pointing to the cooperation between European countries, which resulted in the protection of the Atlantic Ocean from the dangers of pollution.
The head of the Portuguese Space Agency indicated that his country is working closely with everyone in Europe with what space data provides and its importance in specific files, such as confronting forest fires and pollution, which confirms the positive role of the open data policy, considering that moving away from competition in managing space projects is a matter of great importance. Importance.
The Director General of the Philippine Space Agency stated that his country seeks to strengthen its international partnerships in the field of space exploration.
He pointed to cooperation with Japan, where 7 satellites were launched in cooperation with it, calling for continuous international discussions to confront irresponsible behavior and promote the space economy.
The Director of the Strategy and International Cooperation Department at the Polish Space Agency stressed the importance of adopting an open data policy, which is practically embodied, as she said, among European countries that share in facing the challenges facing them, foremost among which are the issues of climate change and the preservation of wealth.
– Mill –

Reda Abdel Nour