Mars, here we come

DUBAI – The UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has said that, following in the footsteps of our great -grandfathers, we have great dreams and ambitions which start from the sky, and we will look again for the stars to build our glory.

In his preface to his book on the UAE Project to Explore Mars, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed writes, "In December 2, 1971, the first man-made spaceship in the history landed on Mars which marked the beginning of a new scientific era in the history of mankind. On the same day, our forefathers at the Union House announced the establishment of the UAE to kick off a different march which aimed to build the Emirati nation.

"After only fifty years, in 2021, the two marches will meet at a point 60 million kilometers away from us, where Emirati nationals will add to the march of human knowledge a new impetus with an Arab imprint."

The book titled "Hope Probe and the UAE Project to Explore Mars," includes the various stages of the project and the reason behind the UAE's decision to launch this project. Sheikh Mohammed's introduction also discusses the history of the exploration of Mars as well as the benefits to humanity of the exploration of the planet.

Sheikh Mohammed congratulated everyone associated with the programme.

Sheikh Mohammed said, ''In a march that extended for 1,000 years, the Arab and Islamic civilization led the world to new horizons of knowledge and opened up new routes for humanity as well as developing, for the sake of humanity, amazing theories and inventions. Our great-grandfathers explored the stars and seas as explorers, traders and scientists to build their glorious civilization. Today, we resume our mission to explore the stars so as to build the future of our generations."

The book provides a comprehensive national reference of the UAE's innovative project to explore the Planet Mars, giving the reasons behind the UAE government's desire to develop space sector with Emirati expertise, in order to make 'Probe hope to explore Mars' one of its achievements, and not its conclusion.'' Here is the text of Sheikh Mohammed's preface to his book: Sheikh Mohammed said, ''In a march that extended for 1,000 years, the Arab and Islamic civilization led the world to new horizons of scientific knowledge and opened up new doors for mankind and provided new and amazing theories, inventions and discoveries, laying laid the foundation stone for a new stage in human history.

Our great-grandfathers explored the stars and seas as explorers, traders and scientists to build their glorious civilization. Today, we resume our mission to explore the stars so as to build the future of our generations."

"Science in our civilization, bringing together astronomy, chemistry, mathematics, medicine and other sciences, was the product of minds which had an integrated concept of the world around them. Our illustrious cities, like Granada, Baghdad, Damascus and others became hubs for science and knowledge, hosting scientists such as Ibn Hayyan, Ibn Sina, Ibn al-Haytham, Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, Ibn Majid and others who were teachers of mankind for centuries. "

''Our great-grandfathers explored the stars, the sky and the planets and set off on the high seas as traders, scientists and explorers. They explored the stars and studied the seasons of the year and their divisions, the months. They also explored other sciences and led the march of an unprecedented civilization. Today, it's time to look again to those stars to build the future of our generations."

"Years and ages have passed. The attention of mankind is once again exploring the stars and looking into Space. On December 2nd 1971, the first man-made vehicle landed on Mars, the Soviet Space ship, Mars 3. This represented the emergence of a new scientific and knowledge era in the history of humanity. On the same day, our fathers announced, at the Union House, the establishment of the UAE which marked the beginning of a new march of building of the citizens of the UAE. After only 50 years, in 2021, these the two marches will meet in a point at a point nearly 60 million kilometers away from us, where UAE citizens will add to the process of human knowledge, launching a new dimension of momentum and a different kind of Arab imprint. We have great dreams and ambitions which start from the sky, and we will look again for the stars to build our glory."