Azerbaijani students are participating in an internship program at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as part of the MBRSC Fellowship Programme. The collaborative initiative is the result of an agreement between the Space Academy of Azercosmos and MBRSC, with support from the Innovation and Digital Development Agency of Azerbaijan.
The 7-day internship program offers a unique opportunity for knowledge exchange in space and aerospace innovations. Participants engage in hands-on training sessions, tackle technical subjects, and will complete research assignments under the guidance of expert mentors.
The program covers classes on a wide range of areas including space and aerospace analog systems, information security, computer and electronic engineering, as well as pilot and astronaut training. It also includes sessions on the Emirates Lunar Mission, Emirates Mars Mission, remote control systems, Python software applications for satellite observation, and artificial intelligence. Additionally, the program features remote sensing applications and master classes with Nora AlMatrooshi, the first female Arab astronaut.
Established in 2006, MBRSC serves as the incubator the UAE’s National Space Programme. The Centre is home to the UAE Satellite Programme, UAE Astronaut Programme, Mars 2117 Programme, Emirates Mars Mission and Emirates Lunar Mission, among others. Under its satellite programme, the Centre has built, developed, and operated several Earth observation satellites, including DubaiSat-1, DubaiSat-2 and KhalifaSat, the first satellite that was fully built by Emiratis in 2018. The Centre has also developed MBZ-SAT, the most advanced satellite in the region, which is scheduled to be launched later this year. MBRSC is also developing the Emirates Airlock, a crew and science airlock module for the Gateway lunar space station, humanity’s first international outpost to orbit the Moon. Additionally, the UAE will also be sending an Emirati astronaut on a Moon mission.
In 2017, MBRSC launched the UAE Astronaut Program to nurture human capital in the space sector. Under the Program, MBRSC currently has four astronauts, two of who have undertaken missions to the International Space Station, including the first mission to space by an Emirati, undertaken by Hazzaa AlMansoori in 2019 and the longest Arab space mission in history by H.E. Dr. Sultan AlNeyadi in 2023. Notably, astronaut Hazzaa AlMansoori participated in the “Astronauts Program” at the International Astronautical Congress held in Baku last year.
