The Mars 2117 Project was announced by the Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, which aims to build human settlements on Mars by 2117.
On the sidelines of the 5th World Government Summit that is currently being held in the United Arab Emirates, the Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced project Mars 2117, a mission to build a human settlement on the our red neighbor by the year 2117.
While many talks and imaginations of such a project have been raised before, this is perhaps the first genuine effort to make it happen. While there has been several unmanned missions to Mars, the 4th planet from our Sun has yet not been walked on by man.
We aspire in the coming century to develop science, technology and our youth's passion for knowledge. This project is driven by that vision. pic.twitter.com/4QibJjtiM2
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) February 14, 2017
“The landing of people on other planets has been a longtime dream for humans. Our aim is that the UAE will spearhead international efforts to make this dream a reality,” said Sheikh Mohammad.
He added that the UAE is one of the world’s biggest investors in space science programs, and that there’s a need to accelerate research in the field.
The project will start taking shape in the UAE with some of their best scientists on top of it, while international scientists and researchers are expected to join in later on, according to a statement released by the Dubai government media office.
"Mars 2117" is a seed we are sowing today to reap the fruit of new generations led by a passion for science and advancing human knowledge. pic.twitter.com/IExtnpiO2B
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) February 14, 2017
The first phases of the Mars 2117 Project will be focused on developing faster means of transportation from and to Mars, as well as design and logistics of the actual settlement. The main problem they will have to solve before reaching the red planet will be how to make life sustainable up there with regards to food, health, energy and transportation.
This is not the UAE’s first space program. Back in July 2014, they announced that they will be creating a national space agency and send the first unmanned Arab probe to Mars by 2021.
