Latest news with #DimitraAtri
The National
16-04-2025
- Science
- The National
Omani spaceport prepares fan zone for visitors to watch rocket launch
Oman's Etlaq Spaceport is getting ready to welcome the public next week, with a fan zone opening so visitors can watch a rocket test flight up close. The launch attempt on April 24 will feature the Horus-4 rocket, developed by London company Advanced Rocket Technologies (ART), and is one of five demonstration missions planned at the site this year as Oman positions itself in the commercial space industry. A two-day fan experience in the free-of-charge zone, called Etlaq FX, will feature a series of activities for different age groups, including a robotics competition. 'It is an interactive area within the spaceport, so we can give the public an opportunity to see the launch and engage them with educational activities,' said Zainab Alsalhi, business development manager for Etlaq, during a webinar this month. Launch sites in Florida and Kazakhstan have offered public viewing areas for years, drawing crowds from around the world to witness the thrill of a rocket lifting off. But this will be the first such experience in the Middle East, and it reflects the growing investment and interest from the public and private sectors in space. Dr Dimitra Atri, an astrophysicist at the New York University Abu Dhabi, said watching launches can inspire people to pursue careers in science and tech. 'The Apollo programme in the US, with public access to space launches, demonstrated the profound impact of public engagement with space exploration, sparking curiosity and driving interest in Stem for decades,' he told The National. 'Oman's commitment to public access at its new spaceport is a strategic move that can cultivate a similar long-term enthusiasm in young people, ultimately benefiting the nation's future in science and technology.' Horus-4, a small experimental rocket, will perform a 'hop test' as part of the Unity-1 mission. It can produce 155 newtons of thrust to reach an altitude of 75 metres with a velocity of about 24 metres per second. It will lift off and land back at the site, helping the company to measure how the rocket performs through different phases, including the launch, in-flight manoeuvres, landing sequence and touchdown. 'The upcoming launch of Horus-4 represents a significant milestone for ART and the broader space community in the Middle East and Africa,' the company said in a statement. 'By leveraging the state-of-the-art facilities at Etlaq Spaceport, ART aims to demonstrate the viability of reusable rocket technology, paving the way for more sustainable and cost-effective space missions in the future.' The fan zone will feature five tents dedicated to reception, hospitality, a live broadcast of the launch, merchandise, and an outdoor viewing area. 'The reception test is going to be the entry point for the visitors,' said Ms Alsalhi. 'The safety team will give a briefing first. We have an outdoor viewing area, of course.' She said there will be chairs available, and shaded areas. Visitors can also bring their own small chairs and small tents but barbecues are not allowed. Specialists will be on site to explain the launch process and timeline. The two-day experience starts on April 22, with the soft opening of the fan zone from 12pm to 6pm. The Full Etlaq Fan Experience on April 23 will offer activities ranging from a drawing area, games and robotics competitions from 12pm to 6pm. Omani space officials are aiming for a 9am launch on April 24, with the fan zone opening from 7.30am to 2pm. Advance registration is mandatory and space fans are encouraged to join Etlaq's newsletter to receive updates on how to register. Ms Alsalhi said slots are limited and will be assigned on a 'first come, first served basis'. The spaceport is in Duqm, which is six hours, about 530km, from Muscat by car and 90 minutes by air. Only Oman's Salam Air operates flights from Muscat to Duqm. In Duqm, there will be dedicated buses to transport visitors from hotels in the city to the spaceport. The next launch is expected to take place in June or July, when the Kea 1 rocket, made by New Zealand company Stellar Kinetics, is due to take off. These are all test launches, allowing start-ups to assess their technology and for Oman to assess what is needed to begin commercial operations later in the decade.
The National
03-04-2025
- Science
- The National
Japan's ispace to attempt second Moon landing after 2022 crash
A Japanese company that failed to land a spacecraft on the Moon in 2022 is attempting to touch down with its second lunar mission, Hakuto-R Venture Mission 2. Ispace's first mission, Hakuto-R Mission 1, crashed on the lunar surface. It is now attempting to land its Resilience lander, which is currently orbiting the Moon and will gradually move closer to the surface for an expected landing on June 5. 'Compared to Mission 1, Mission 2 is progressing as smoothly as can be expected from the moment of launch, which is proof that the mission operation specialists have made meticulous preparations,' ispace founder Takeshi Hakamada said. 'I feel that the experience and knowledge from the previous mission have been put to good use.' The first mission failed because the vehicle's software miscalculated its altitude, mistakenly believing it had already reached the lunar surface while it was still descending. It ran out of fuel moments before the expected touchdown and crashed into the surface. This latest mission is carrying a small rover, Tenacious, designed by ispace Europe that will collect regolith, otherwise known as Moon dust. It is also carrying an experimental water electrolyser that will test to see if producing oxygen and hydrogen from resources already available on the surface is possible. Dr Dimitra Atri, an astrophysicist at New York University Abu Dhabi, told The National the Moon could eventually become a refuelling station for Mars-bound missions. 'Harnessing the water on the Moon to produce oxygen and hydrogen, essential components of rocket fuel, holds the potential to transform lunar mining operations into a 'gas station' for future space missions,' he said. 'The idea is that by converting water into these propellants, the Moon could serve as a launching point for spacecraft, offering a cost-effective alternative due to its lower gravity.' If the landing of the Resilience vehicle is successful, ispace said that it would begin 'full scale commercial operations' with its third mission, providing clients with direct lunar transportation services that would take only weeks to complete. The cis-lunar economy, the economic activities taking place in the space between the Earth and the Moon's orbit such as satellite operations and lunar resource extraction, could exceed a value of $154 billion by 2040, according to a PwC lunar market assessment report in 2021. Companies are tapping into this market with demand rising from government space agencies looking to outsource transportation services for spacecraft or rovers they've built, as well as for future crewed missions to the surface. The UAE, for example, has developed its second rover, Rashid 2. 'In the medium to long term [the next few decades], the development of a cis-lunar economy holds great promise for both space agencies and the private sector, which should work together to cut costs and benefit from each other's expertise and capabilities,' Dr Nidhal Guessoum, an astrophysicist at the American University of Sharjah, told The National in an earlier interview. 'For economic purposes, activities on and around the Moon will focus on extracting water, Earth-rare minerals and construction materials. 'Private companies can provide services, ranging from transportation to, on and from the Moon, to construction, manufacturing, infrastructure, food production and recycling. And lastly, tourism and exploration will probably start slowly but then boom in a few decades.' Only five countries have so far managed to land successfully on the Moon, including the US, the former Soviet Union, China, Japan and India. Two American companies, Intuitive Machines and Firefly, have also secured safe touchdowns. Landing on the surface is no easy feat, as the Moon has no atmosphere so engineers cannot use parachutes to slow down the spacecraft. A propulsion system on the craft is used instead to change its velocity and attitude. The unstable terrain of the lunar surface can make a safe landing more difficult.
The National
21-03-2025
- Science
- The National
Scientists in Abu Dhabi develop 'moon dust' made of UAE rocks to boost lunar ambitions
A team of Abu Dhabi scientists has developed artificial moon dust, derived from the UAE's natural resources, to help lay the groundwork for the nation's quest to land Emirati astronauts on the lunar surface. Researchers at the New York University Abu Dhabi Space Exploration Laboratory said the substance – called Emirates Lunar Simulant – will allow scientists to test space instruments and equipment to ensure their readiness for the country's future missions to the Moon. The researchers, led by Dr Dimitra Atri, an astrophysicist at NYUAD, created the soil simulant from anorthosite-rich rocks found in the UAE. These rocks closely resemble the mineral and chemical composition of Moon samples, making them ideal for testing. The work will boost the UAE's growing space exploration aspirations. Last month, Salem Al Marri, director general of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, set out the UAE's goal to put an Emirati astronaut on the Moon within 10 years. 'By leveraging local geological resources to advance planetary science, this project strengthens the UAE's role in space exploration and contributes to global efforts to prepare for future lunar missions,' said Dr Atri, principal investigator at the Space Exploration Laboratory. He is part of the scientific team behind several UAE-led missions, including the Hope probe orbiting Mars, the Moon exploration programme and the space flight to an asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. 'The Emirates Lunar Simulant will be instrumental in testing rover performance, training astronauts and validating lunar equipment, helping optimise missions and reduce risk for future lunar exploration.' As transporting large amounts of Moon soil to Earth is impractical, such soil simulants are essential for preparing for lunar exploration. The Abu Dhabi team, which featured researcher Vigneshwaran Krishnamoorthi and undergraduate students from NYUAD, is using the simulant to assess instruments for key mission operations, including landings, surface exploration, construction and resource extraction. The anorthosite-rich rocks were sourced from the Semail Ophiolite Complex, an ancient geological formation in the UAE that contains a well-preserved section of Earth's lithosphere, or outer crust. The researchers also explored the substance's potential for use in lunar agriculture and the growing of food on the Moon, to support long-term efforts to build a human presence in space. Bright minds at NYUAD are playing a leading role in the UAE's booming space sector. The National revealed this month how the university had established a new planetary simulation chamber that could transform how scientists in the Emirates conduct space research, allowing them to recreate extreme planetary environments. Researchers will be able to replicate the surface conditions of the Moon, Mars, asteroids and the Martian atmosphere by adjusting the gas composition, pressure and temperature inside the controlled chamber. The chamber also has an optical system capable of recreating solar conditions across different regions of the solar system. Researchers will be able to expose samples to intense ultraviolet radiation, mimicking the effects of prolonged space exposure. The Emirates has made major strides in the global space race in recent years. Hazza Al Mansouri made history in September 2019 as the first Emirati to venture into space then Sultan Al Neyadi was chosen in March 2023 to be the first Arab astronaut to carry out a long-duration journey in space. The UAE signed up with Nasa to contribute a key component of the US-led Gateway, a Moon-orbiting station, in exchange for sending an Emirati to the station. That agreement, however, only guarantees the country access to the station and a separate deal would have to be made for landing an Emirati on the lunar surface. SpaceX and Blue Origin are developing landing vehicles to carry humans to the surface from the Gateway station.
Zawya
20-03-2025
- Science
- Zawya
NYU Abu Dhabi researchers develop new simulated moon dust for lunar exploration
ABU DHABI - A team of researchers at the New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) Space Exploration Laboratory, led by Dimitra Atri, Ph.D., has developed a novel lunar soil simulant that closely replicates the properties of moon dust. Known as the Emirates Lunar Simulant, it will allow scientists to test instruments for the upcoming Emirates Lunar Mission and the UAE's future astronauts on the Moon. Because transporting large amounts of Moon soil to Earth is impractical, soil simulants are essential for preparing future lunar explorations. The researchers developed the Emirates Lunar Simulant from anorthosite-rich rocks found in the UAE. These rocks closely resemble the mineral and chemical composition of Moon samples, making them ideal for testing. The NYUAD team, which included researcher Vigneshwaran Krishnamoorthi and undergraduate students from NYUAD, is using the simulant to assess instruments for key mission operations, including landings, surface exploration, construction, and resource extraction. "By leveraging local geological resources to advance planetary science, this project strengthens the UAE's role in space exploration and contributes to global efforts to prepare for future lunar missions," said Atri, Principal Investigator at NYU Abu Dhabi's Space Exploration Laboratory. "The Emirates Lunar Simulant will be instrumental in testing rover performance, training astronauts, and validating lunar equipment, helping optimise missions and reduce risk for future lunar exploration." The Space Exploration Laboratory at NYU Abu Dhabi, based within the Centre for Astrophysics and Space Science (CASS), is dedicated to advancing planetary science and space exploration.
Khaleej Times
20-03-2025
- Science
- Khaleej Times
Piece of Moon in UAE? Researchers create simulated lunar dust to support exploration
In a laboratory at a university in Abu Dhabi a team of researchers have been working on something groundbreaking – bringing a piece of the Moon to Earth. The Emirates Lunar Simulant, a specially crafted material that mimics the properties of real moon dust, was developed by New York University Abu Dhabi's Space Exploration Laboratory, led by Dr Dimitra Atri. It will allow scientists to test instruments for the upcoming Emirates Lunar Mission and the UAE's future astronauts on the Moon. Transporting large quantities of Moon soil to Earth is impractical, making soil simulants crucial for future lunar exploration. Researchers developed the Emirates Lunar Simulant using anorthosite-rich rocks from the UAE, which closely match the mineral and chemical composition of lunar samples. The NYUAD team, including researcher Vigneshwaran Krishnamoorthi and undergraduate students, are utilising the simulant to test instruments for critical mission operations such as landings, surface exploration, construction, and resource extraction. 'By leveraging local geological resources to advance planetary science, this project strengthens the UAE's role in space exploration and contributes to global efforts to prepare for future lunar missions,' said Atri, principal investigator at NYU Abu Dhabi's Space Exploration Laboratory. 'The Emirates Lunar Simulant will be instrumental in testing rover performance, training astronauts, and validating lunar equipment, helping optimise missions, and reducing risk for future lunar exploration.' The anorthosite-rich rocks are important in understanding the Earth's geological history, as they are often considered to be ancient crustal material. These rocks were obtained from the Semail Ophiolite Complex (SOC), a geological formation in the UAE that preserves a section of Earth's lithosphere. Anorthosite, a rock found in both Earth's crust and on the Moon, was studied in the research paper 'Development of Lunar Simulants from Analog Sites in the United Arab Emirates.' The researchers detailed how they identified and processed anorthosite layers within the SOC to create a high-purity lunar dust simulant. In addition to testing instruments, the team explored the simulant's potential for lunar agriculture, successfully growing food in it. This experiment highlights its viability for future lunar farming, a crucial step toward sustaining long-term human presence in space. Emirates Lunar Mission Meanwhile, the UAE is making significant strides in the Artemis programme. As part of its expanding collaboration with NASA and international partners, the country will contribute an airlock module to the Lunar Gateway —a planned space station that will orbit the Moon. This airlock will function as a sealed chamber, allowing astronauts to safely exit and enter the station during spacewalks or when transferring equipment. In return for this contribution, the UAE has secured a seat for an Emirati astronaut who will be landing on the surface of the moon in the next ten years. This mission would mark a historic milestone, making the UAE one of the few nations to send an astronaut into lunar orbit.
