UAE, Luxembourg eye space cooperation

The UAE Space Agency on Monday in Abu Dhabi discussed with a delegation from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg the means of cooperation, Emirati state news agency WAM reported.

The delegation was led by Luxembourg's deputy prime minister, ministers of economy, internal security and defense.

Khalifa Mohammed Al-Rumaithi, chairman of the UAE Space Agency, said the meeting was in the context of the agency's collaboration with several international agencies targeting knowledge and information exchange.

Luxembourg is home to the Society of European Satellites, the largest satellite operator in the world.

The society controls 50 geostationary communication satellites managing thousands of channels worldwide, including over 200 channels in the Middle East.

Mohammed Nasser Al-Ahbabi, general director of the UAE Space Agency, said both sides discussed means of knowledge exchange and collective international efforts focused on cooperation prospects between both countries in the space field.

The UAE has already developed several research and observation satellites and aims to launch a mission to Mars by 2021 coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the country's establishment.

The UAE and Russia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a strategic partnership in the space exploration field in December 2015.

Xinhua