Abu Dhabi will soon set up the largest space centre in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) that will receive, analyse and utilize data from satellites orbiting the earth. A cluster of 4 satelliteAbu Dhabi, Middle East and North Africa, MENA, Space Centre, Gulf Earth Observation Center, 4C GEOC, 4C Controls Incorporated, Hydra Trading, Middle East Military and Defence Pros will also be launched by 2013, with 2 of them being operational by 2012. The 4C , Gulf Earth Observation Center (GEOC) will be developed in a collaborative venture between United States public company 4C Controls Incorporated, and Abu Dhabi based Hydra Trading LLC.
According to Major-General Khalid Abdulla Mubarak Al Buainnain, Executive VP-Middle East Military and Defence Projects, 4C Controls Incorporated, it will cover a surface area of approximately 10,000 sq m. The facility will host an earth observation satellite data Direct Receiving Station (DRS) and offer university level courses in space engineering held in cooperation with Politecnico Di Torino, one of Europes most distinguished science and technology institutes.
The Dh110 million space centre, which will be operational in 6 months, will be a dual use facility. It will focus on defence applications, civilian security and surveillance, emergency risk management, maritime management, environmental protection, geology, forestry and hydrology, cartography and planning.
