The project of a test Martian city to recreate the conditions of the Red Planet in the United Arab Emirates will be implemented in 2.5 years.
Work on a Martian city in the UAE worth 500 million dirhams ($ 136.1 million) has begun and will be completed in 30 months, said Mohammed Nasser Al-Ahbabi, Director General of UAE Space Agency.
Mars City is the largest and most realistic model on Earth, simulating living conditions on the surface of Mars. It will consist of several domes. In construction, innovative methods will be applied to support structures. The project includes laboratories for the production of food, energy and water, as well as sites for future agricultural testing and food safety research.
The project will also include the Mars Museum and specialized research laboratories.
At Dubai Airshow, Al-Ahbabi announced that the UAE will begin the process of selecting astronauts for a space flight to Mars next year, and UAE citizens will be given priority.
It is assumed that the Hope probe will be launched in 2020, but will reach Mars and begin to enter the orbit of the planet in 2021. This event will be timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the UAE.
"The UAE's space sector will contribute to the development of a knowledge-based economy and also position us as a leader in advanced technologies and industries," he said, adding that three universities in the UAE are presenting degrees in space sciences.
According to him, the total space sector of the UAE is $ 6 billion. It is the largest in the region in terms of investment, opportunities, maturity, knowledge and experience.
Al-Ahbabi said the UAE is developing space law that covers the goals and objectives of national space research projects, including peaceful space exploration and the peaceful application of space technology. It will also consider advanced concepts emerging in this area, such as ownership of natural resources in space.
