You are sure to be surprised to know that Abu dhabi, one of
the only remaining geographies of the world that doesn’t even have a passenger
rail service, is on the road of becoming of a popular space tourism hub. The
place is on the forefront of becoming a space port in coming years after the
successful commencement of the first rocket powered test flight in to the space
was engineered by Virgin Galactic, the first commercial space tourism company
of the world co owned by Aabar Investments of Abu Dhabi and Sir Richard Branson
of Virgin Atlantic. The program has entered into its final phase prior to the
actual commencement of commercial space tourism facilities from Spaceport
America in New Mexico.
It was in 2009 when the deal was announced between the two
companies that Abu Dhabi would be getting exclusive regional rights for the
upcoming Virgin Galactic tourism and space research flight, thus leading to the
proposed construction of a spaceport right here in this Middle East geography. The
announcement comes as a big landmark for Abu Dhabi industry which is fast
becoming global in it approach. In fact, the same Aabar investments earlier
bought 9.1% in Mercedes Benz maker Daimler and a 4% stake in California based
Tesla Motors company San Carlos, making it the most active of all the Abu
Dhabi’s investment funds. The space port
is also in line with the international plans of the emirate that has long
competed for the international attention with its neighboring emirate Dubai.
Said to be the richest of all the seven sheikhdoms that make
up the United Arab Emirates, the space port decision will also help the emirate
in diversifying its identity as just an oil reserve emirate. In fact, according
the founder of Virgin Galactic, Richard Branson, the emirate will take a giant
leap in terms of travel when it will launch its own port that will ferry
passengers to the outer universe. It will also help in taking forward the
emirate’s plans o introduce science and technology at the grassroots level and
help in boosting economic growth and improving business and service opportunities
in the area. It will also help in enhancing tourism and foreign investment in
the region.
So all you space junkies who have been dying to see just
what’s outside this world of ours, Abu Dhabi spaceport will provide you with a
once in a lifetime opportunity to experience weightlessness and a first hand
look of how this beautiful Earth of ours looks from outside !!!
