One of the airports in the United Arab Emirates will be ready to send tourists into space within a few years.
On March 25, 2019, officials revealed details of the agreement between the UAE Space Agency and Virgin Galactic. According to statements, the airport of Al Ain will turn into a cosmodrome and will be ready for departure of the first space tourists by the SpaceShipTwo fleet in a few years.
In addition to bringing people into space, the spacecraft will also serve as a platform for space research, the statement said. As part of a historic project in the UAE, a microgravity research center will also be created.
“The signing of the agreement is consistent with the recently announced National Plan for the Promotion of Space Investment, which aims to increase domestic and foreign investment in the space sector of the UAE. While working on the development of our space ecosystem, we will further contribute to creating a favorable business environment in the UAE and ensuring that so that startups and investors in the field of space research have access to the unique space infrastructure that they need for growth and development, "said the doctor Muhammad Al Ahbabi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency.
