American University of Sharjah recently hosted a special
lecture by former U.S. astronaut Marsha Ivins, who successfully flew
five space shuttle missions during her career.
The event was attended by AUS community members and guests,
including Dr. Björn Kjerfve, AUS chancellor; Amer Al Sayegh, KhalifaSat project manager at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC); and other senior officials.
During the event, Al Sayegh spoke of his hope of seeing the UAE
becoming a regional leader in space exploration. He also highlighted the
opportunities of a career in space in the UAE.
“The space sector is one the country’s leadership
places great importance on, so there are huge opportunities for those who study
science, mathematics and engineering to be a part of this amazing
journey,” Al Sayegh said.
During her lecture, Ivins captured the audience’s attention
with her recollections of everyday life in space.
“We go around the earth every 90 minutes and every
astronaut that has come back has said the same thing,” she said. “As you
orbit the earth, you do not see borders and boundaries that separate the
countries. We learn about these borders when we study geography. We do not see
natural borders and boundaries but sadly we do see man-made ones.”
