Japanese ambassador visits UAE space center

Japan's Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates recently visited the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, where he met a number of executive officials and discussed ways to enhance the nations' bilateral relations in space science, technology and research.

During the visit, Kanji Fujiki was briefed on the center’s projects including the Emirates Mars Mission-Hope Probe, KhalifaSat, DubaiSat-2 and DubaiSat-1. The ambassador also inspected the primary facility for manufacturing satellites and laboratories at the center and toured the ground station from which operations of the two satellites are run.

"We have had rewarding collaborations with Japanese authorities in the past and companies that specialize in space science, most notably the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), following the launch of DubaiSat-2 into space," the center's Assistant Director General for Scientific and Technical Affairs Salem Humaid Al Marri said. "The satellite contained an electric propulsion system developed in collaboration with JAXA, and currently one of Japan’s leading companies has been tasked with the launch of KhalifaSat. Our joint ventures are proof of our confidence in Japan’s capabilities, expertise and leading role in space technology across the globe."