ABU DHABI, 4th September, 2023 (WAM) — Astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi connected with the public and community through the “Meeting from Space” initiative, which was organised by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC).
The initiative helped to increase awareness and knowledge about the space sector during Al Neyadi’s six-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Meeting from Space was a series of events in various emirates around the country and allowed the public to join a live chat with Al Neyadi while he was in space. People wishing to join the conversation must register in advance and follow a schedule. The events have been held regularly over the past period.
The initiative enabled people to communicate and interact with Al Neyadi and learn more about his mission on the ISS. He shared the details of his experiments and their expected benefits. The meetings allowed space exploration enthusiasts to gain insights into his historic mission.
The initiative had three main outcomes. Firstly, it inspired younger generations. The initiative's regular meetings attracted a high attendance rate from young community members, which helped raise their awareness about developments in the space sector and its significance. This, in turn, significantly impacted their cognitive awareness of the scientific importance of the space sector and its role in supporting international efforts to find knowledge-based solutions to various challenges.
The initiative also fostered a culture of innovation among its participants, who learnt from Al Neyadi, who answered their scientific questions and shared his experiences on the ISS, inspiring them to pursue their dreams and aspirations with an innovative mindset.
The initiative also raised the public’s awareness of the space sector by engaging diverse segments of society in the meetings, helping them understand the goals and aspirations of the UAE National Space Programme and its role in the overall development framework.
From March to June 2022, nearly 5,000 space enthusiasts attended the meetings, where they learnt about the Arab world’s longest space mission.
Al Neyadi also connected with hundreds of students from different parts of the UAE through wireless communication sessions, which were part of a joint initiative by the MBRSC, the Emirates Amateur Radio Society, and the Emirates Literature Foundation to make space exploration more accessible to everyone.
Hazem Hussein