She also spoke passionately about the power of experiential learning, noting that SARA\u2019s weekly workshops will allow students to build and launch rockets, programme robotic systems, design satellites, and explore AI and sustainability not as abstract ideas but as practical tools to shape the future. \u201cBy engaging students early,\u201d she said, \u201cWe\u2019re not just teaching science; we\u2019re building character, resilience, and leadership.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n That collaborative spirit was echoed by Engr Naser Al Rashdy, Director of Space Policy and Regulations at the UAE Space Agency. Calm and thoughtful, he spoke about the UAE\u2019s growing role in the global space community, and how education underpins it all. \u201cSpace is not the work of one nation alone,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a shared endeavour that depends on cooperation, innovation, and imagination.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, turning to the audience, Al Rashdy asked the young crowd a simple question: \u201cWhy space?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Hands shot up across the room. One student said, \u201cIt’s the future.\u201d Another admitted, \u201c I want to know what\u2019s out there.\u201d The answers were honest, sometimes hesitant, but always full of wonder. And that, he said with a smile, is exactly where all exploration begins \u2014 with curiosity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His remarks gave students a sense that they are part of something much larger than themselves, a reminder that the pursuit of knowledge knows no borders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Representing the American Chamber of Commerce in Abu Dhabi, Ms Lina Lampkin brought a business and policy perspective. She emphasised how partnerships between education and industry are essential for nurturing future-ready talent. \u201cWhen we invest in learning, we invest in the future workforce,\u201d she said, underscoring how programmes like SARA can help align curiosity with opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The highlight of the day came from someone who\u2019s actually seen the world from space. Dr Don Thomas, a former NASA astronaut and veteran of four Space Shuttle missions, shared personal stories that silenced the room in awe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He recounted a moment from his very first mission: just minutes after reaching orbit, his first task was to photograph the external fuel tank to check for any damage. Focused on the job, he didn\u2019t even glance outside for the first five minutes. But when he finally lowered the camera and looked out the window, he gasped, there, suspended in the vast blackness, was Earth. A brilliant, curved horizon of blue and white.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He spoke candidly about the indescribable beauty of Earth seen from orbit. \u201cWhen I finally got there,\u201d he said, \u201cI looked out the window and saw this blue planet floating in darkness. It was breathtaking and it made me realise how connected we all are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n When students asked him about fear, failure and the feeling of floating, his advice was simple: \u201cStay curious. Keep learning. And remember, space needs everyone, not just astronauts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the event wrapped up, the energy in the room lingered. For the students, the launch of SARA was more than an introduction to rockets; it was a glimpse into their own potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The launch also featured hands-on demonstrations, including a NASA Multi-Axis Astronaut Training Simulator that gave students a taste of the physical demands of astronaut life, and interactive workshops led by international space experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond policy and plans, SARA’s success may rest on something beautifully simple: showing that the future of space isn\u2019t just about technology. It\u2019s about imagination, collaboration and the courage to dream big.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And if the excitement in that hall was any indication, the next generation is already getting ready for lift-off.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Curiosity proved the most powerful fuel at the Space and Rocketry Academy relaunch. It began with a question as old as curiosity itself: What lies…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3406,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[176,4,7,161,36,281,355],"tags":[497,328],"class_list":["post-3405","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","category-international","category-mena","category-science","category-technology","category-travel","category-uae","tag-sara","tag-space"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Engr](\"https:\/\/themena.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gulfnews2F2025-11-102F5srteqvt2FWhatsApp-Image-2025-11-10-at-1.49.49-PM.jpg\")
Space beyond borders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Building bridges through learning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A view from above<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/themena.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gulfnews2F2025-09-102Ft89lg8dp2FISS-Space-station-on-orbit-of-Earth-planet.-Blue-planet-and-ISS-in-deep-space.jpg\")
The next frontier<\/h2>\n\n\n\n