Sultanate of Oman launches space settlement center

<p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr">Weather of Arabia - The Sultanate of Oman announced, on Tuesday, the establishment of the Space Settlement Center to study the behavior of astronauts before joining the actual flights, and to serve scientists, researchers and those interested in conducting their experiments in the space sector, artificial intelligence and advanced technology.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> The General Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones signed a land usufruct agreement for the International Space and Technology Company, to establish a space settlement center on an area of 20,000 square meters in the area designated for artificial intelligence experiments in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> The agreement was signed by the General Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, Engineer Ahmed bin Ali Akak, who is in charge of running the work of the Special Economic Zone at Duqm, and it was signed by the International Company for Space and Technology, Engineer Bahia bint Hilal Al-Shuaiba, the founder and CEO of the company.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> The International Space and Technology Company, which is the first Omani company concerned with space, said: “We, the International Company for Space and Technology, were pleased to announce the signing of the usufruct right to establish the (Space Settlement Center), which is concerned with simulating life and creating a simulated environment for space such as Mars and the Moon to study the behavior of astronauts before joining manned flights to outer space&quot;.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> The General Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones has designated an area for experiments with artificial intelligence, drones, and future technologies, in Duqm, with an area of 18 square kilometers, at an altitude of 80 meters above sea level, and the area is located near the fishery, food and clean energy industries area. Works and projects of the Artificial Intelligence Experiments Zone. <a href="https://www.alkhaleej.ae/2022-09-13/%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%B7%D9%86%D8%A9-%D8%B... newspaper</a></p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"></p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Engineer Bahia Al-Shuaiba, CEO of Space and Technology, said about the Space Settlement Center that it is a scientific and tourism project: “It simulates space and aims to study the behavior of astronauts, and serves scientists and researchers wishing to prepare research in space and technology.”</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Al-Shuaiba explained: “The duration of the establishment of the Space Settlement Center is two years, and we aim, in the first stage, to simulate Mars and the Moon.”</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> She affirms: &quot;The Space Settlement Center is a national project that represents the Sultanate of Oman abroad, and we hope to receive the appropriate support.&quot;</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> She added, &quot;Duqm was chosen as a center for space settlement, because Duqm is a promising economic region, and all facilities were provided by the Special Economic Authority at Duqm.&quot;</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <a href="https://alsahwa.om/?p=163970">the awakening</a></p>