UAE Mars mission will inspire a new generation to reach for the stars

Landmark undertaking will put career paths such as science and technology in the spotlight

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid personally thank staff from mission control in Dubai after Hope probe's successful orbit entry on February 9. The National

A man celebrates at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National

People celebrate at an event at Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National

An event at Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National

People celebrate at an event at Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Guests arrive at the Burj Park event to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A guest attending the Burj Park event to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Burj Park was set up for people to watch the Hope probe attempt its Mars orbit insertion. Courtesy: UAE Government Twitter

UAE Mars Mission engineer, Hessa Al Matroushi, was interviewed at a Burj Park event to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, attended the event at Burj Park to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Engineer Hessa Al Matroushi attended the event at Burj Park to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National

TV crews get ready at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National

An event at Dubai's Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Guests and media arrive at an event at Burj Park to witness Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The Burj Khalifa lights up at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The UAE Flag area on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi lights up in red to celebrate the success of the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Victor Besa / The National

The ADNOC Headquarters lights up in Abu Dhabi to celebrate the success of the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Victor Besa / The National

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed celebrates with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National

People celebrate at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to mark the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The Hope probe's historic mission to Mars will inspire current and future generations to pursue careers in science, technology, mathematics and engineering, experts said.

The UAE became only the fifth country to reach the Red Planet and only the second to do so in a maiden flight, sparking jubilant scenes on Tuesday evening.

The achievement could be a launch pad for the Arab world to reach even greater heights.

Rohan Roberts, who leads an astronomy programme at Gems Wellington Academy in Al Khail, said he believed the Mars mission would accelerate a burgeoning desire to explore space.

"The youth are so inspired by the Hope probe. It creates a sense of awe and wonder about the universe we live in and fills their minds with optimism," he told The National.

"It's a nice counterbalance to the doom and gloom narrative of traditional media, where we emphasise the negative, and students are always thinking that the future is dystopian. It gives students excitement and hope for the future."

A key component of the UAE space programme is to generate interest in space among youth.

Experts from the UAE Space Agency and Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre tour public and private schools, creating interactive workshops, holding space camps, launching competitions and introducing Stem-focused subjects in educational institutions.

A couple of schools launched space or Stem-dedicated programmes, while some universities now have a master's programme in space sciences, including University of Sharjah and UAE University in Al Ain.

Each has a dedicated space centre for their students.

“We're trying to align the academy with the nation's priority in the fields of scientific innovation, space, technology and space exploration,” Mr Roberts said.

Dr Vajahat Hussain, chief executive of Amity Education Middle East, which has its own satellite ground station for student use, said he believed the UAE's journey to Mars would guide pupils who were interested in space but were unsure which path to take.

“Tuesday's event will fire the imagination of the youth and of all those young children who are in junior classes at the moment, wondering what they would do with their life,” he said. “It will trigger something in them – they will aspire to be astronauts and space explorers.”

Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology and chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency, previously said that one of the priorities of the mission was to inspire Arab youth.

Mission director Omran Sharaf told The National that it would help the UAE to find its own Elon Musk or Bill Gates.

“There was a vision and goals we wanted to achieve – based on that the team designed a programme within this mission to create an impact,” Mr Sharaf said.

"The mission was launched in 2014 and, in that timeframe, you see the language of a whole generation and priorities change. Instead of pupils wanting to work in property or the finance sector, they talk about being entrepreneurs and innovators – being the future Elon Musk and Bill Gates of the UAE."