NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and United Arab Emirates Space Agency Chairman Khalifa Al Romaithi have signed an agreement for both countries to collaborate on aeronautics research as well as the exploration and use of both the atmosphere’s airspace and outer space.
NASA said Sunday the U.S. and UAE seek to cooperate and collaborate in areas such as space science, operational Earth observation, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, education, technology, safety and mission assurance.
Bolden said the UAE will support the journey to Mars mission under the new framework agreement and technical experts from both countries have already begun talks on areas of mutual interest.
Romaithi said the UAE signed the agreement to aid its efforts to develop space technologies and an industry that can support the effort.
NASA and the UAE’s space agency will also work to determine additional fields of mutual interest for potential cooperative programs or joint activities on Earth, in airspace or outer space.
NASA further said the cooperation aims to create and implement educational and public outreach programs and joint workshops in efforts to exchange scientific data, scientists, engineers and experiences on related regulatory frameworks and standards.
The framework also includes an implementing arrangement that formalizes the Mars exploration as the first area of collaboration between both agencies.
The implementing arrangement calls for the formation of a joint steering group to facilitate discussions on potential projects that could support the Mars mission.
