Dubai: Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) has launched the UAE Zero Gravity competition to offer students residing in the UAE the chance to experience zero gravity through a trip to the United States of America. The winners will be flown to Florida in the US to experience the Lunar, Martian, and Zero Gravity onboard of a Boeing 727 aircraft. The students will also have the chance to carry out their own scientific experiment under these gravitational conditions, similar to astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS). This initiative is in-line with MBRSC ambitions for future space exploration and discovery as well as the Mars 2117 strategy which aims to build an inhabitable human settlement on Mars through global research alliances.

Students can apply through the MBRSC website, where they will be asked to answer three questions either in written format or by making a video, talking about what experiment they would conduct in zero gravity conditions. The UAE Zero Gravity Experience is open to all students studying in the UAE, aged 16 and above including students with determination. Either individual or group applications are encouraged, although groups must be no more than three people and entries must be received by the closing date of 5th July 2018 with the trip taking place in October.

Commenting on this initiative, Yousuf Hamad Al Shaibani, Director General at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre said: "This competition is another step on our journey that showcases the UAE’s constant investment in young talent to be part of science and space programmes. These programmes are designed to help serve national interests in the future, actively participating in global space exploration and exploring the prospects of human life in space and supporting scientific research that helps us achieve the UAE ambitious vision to become a leading country in the global race to the red planet.”

Adnan AlRais, Director of Mars 2117 Programme at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, added: “We are thrilled to be able to offer such a unique scientific experience to our future generation of space explorers residing here in the UAE to enable them to join the country in its journey to space. We will be selecting twenty lucky students to board the flight with us in October and encourage all budding astronauts to participate and look forward to strengthening the ambitious spirit of the participants.”

The winners will be selected to take part in a Parabolic Flight, which simulates micro gravity conditions through a series of maneuvers (called parabola) that achieves weightlessness for passengers. During each parabola the passenger will experience up to 22 seconds of weightlessness. Parabolic flights are used to prepare astronauts for their missions in advance of making the trip to space for the first time and has been experienced previously by the likes of the famous scientist Stephen Hawking.

The UAE Zero Gravity competition is part of MBRSC’s Mars 2117 vision to build a human colony on Mars by 2117. The Mars 2117 Programme is funded by the ICT Fund of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA).

For more information and to register, please visit https://mbrsc.ae/zerog/

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About MBRSC:

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, founded in 2006, is home to the UAE National Space Programme. The Centre builds and operates earth observation satellites, offering imaging and data analysis services to clients around the world. The Centre is responsible for the development of the Emirates Mars Mission and the Mars Hope Probe, a mission to reach Mars orbit by 2021 and gather key science data about Mars’ atmosphere, as well as the UAE Astronaut Programme and the development of the Mars 2117 vision to build a human colony on Mars. The first step in that vision, the Mars Scientific City, will launch in 2020.

For media inquiries:

Mahra Mohammad Al Falasi

Corporate Communications Department

Mahra.Alfalasi@mbrsc.ae

+97146071200-ext 380

© Press Release 2018