Vienna: The Bahrain Space Agency (SPA) announced the election of Shaikha Hessa bint Ali Al Khalifa as the Second Vice-Chair of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) during the 68th COPUOS session held in Austria. This appointment marks a historic milestone as Shaikha Hessa bint Ali becomes the first Arab Muslim woman to hold this position.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Shaikha Hessa bint Ali emphasized Bahrain's progress in space initiatives, highlighting the launch of the country's first locally designed satellite "Al Munther" for earth observation. She also mentioned the completion of the second phase of the "CO2Sat" project aimed at monitoring carbon emissions in collaboration with British institutions. Bahrain is actively engaging in testing artificial intelligence technologies in orbit through strategic cooperation with Oman and is participating in the Arab Satellite 813 initiative dedicated to regional climate monitoring. Furthermore, the country is involved in three lunar exploration missions, signifying its commitment to deep space exploration.
Shaikha Hessa bint Ali expressed that her appointment signifies international recognition of the contribution of Arab women in high-level technical forums. She affirmed the Bahrain Space Agency's commitment to promoting peace and innovation in space, ensuring transparency and sustainability, and fulfilling its responsibility towards future generations.
Bahrain's official statement reiterated the Kingdom's support for United Nations initiatives such as "Space for Women" and "Space for Water." The focus remains on empowering developing countries to access space technologies, implementing guidelines for long-term space sustainability, and enhancing global dialogue on space traffic management and reducing orbital debris.
The member states unanimously endorsed Shaikha Hessa bint Ali's appointment following her nomination by the Bahrain Space Agency, reflecting her career in the space sector. This appointment coincides with the transformation of the National Space Science Agency into the Bahrain Space Agency, expanding its strategic mandate.
COPUOS stands as the leading UN committee for international cooperation in space exploration, marking Bahrain's leadership role as a significant diplomatic and scientific achievement for the Kingdom.