Free Astronomy Magazine July-August 2015

ASTRONAUTICS the aerospace sector, it is easy to predict a further flourishing of skilled professionals within this fertile reality. A project that has already been completed is the Sharjah Centre for Space Sciences and Astronomy (SCSSA), at the University City of Sharjah, inaugurated last May by HH Dr. Sheikh Sul- tan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and ruler of the Sharjah Emirate. The new facil- ity provides study and research programs, in- cluding advanced labo- ratories, a planetarium with more than 10 mil- lion stars and a perma- nent exhibition trac- ing the Muslims’ contri- bution to astronomy, the history of the tele- scope and the con- quest of space. Now we just have to wait for the actual construction of Hope and related tests. Given the authorita- tiveness of who has pro- moted the mission, we can be sure that every- thing will proceed ac- cording to plans. will be less plentiful. The rulers have placed great store on their internal forces, so much so that today all the engineers involved in the Hope mission are UAE nationals; a noteworthy accomplishment for a country where about 80% of its population is con- stituted by foreigners. Considering also the plan to establish new university courses aimed at promoting career opportunities in n O ther photos of the meet- ing held in Dubai, which marked a turning point in the planning of the technological, scientific and socio-economic future of the United Arab Emir- ates. [Moham- med bin Rashid Space Centre]