WASHINGTON — Representatives of the governments of the United States and the United Arab Emirates met in Washington the week of March 16 to discuss potential space cooperation. No formal agreements came out of the meetings, which covered a “broad list of potential areas of space cooperation,” but future meetings are planned, according to a U.S. State Department announcement. The United Arab Emirates is ramping up its space activities in several areas, including plans for a 2020 Mars probe.
The United States and the United Arab Emirates officials discussed strengthening civil and national security space collaboration. They agreed on developing a strategic approach that would focus on building mutual confidence and understanding of space systems on which both countries rely for economic, environmental, security and social well-being. Initial discussions focused on space policy and regulatory developments, long term sustainability of space activities, space security, space exploration, bilateral space science cooperation, weather monitoring, the use of satellite-based applications and exchanges of best practices.
