Most astronauts have to go through years of training before getting handed a space suit. But if you’re a baby born in the UAE on February 9th, 2021 – you might be the one exception.
Emirati babies born on February 9th – the same day the UAE Mars Hope Probe successfully broke Mars’ Orbit – were given custom-made replica Emirati space suits to celebrate the UAE’s historical achievement of becoming the fifth nation in the world to reach Mars. The babies are being nicknamed UAE’s future astronauts – which hints to the UAE’s goal of inspiring younger generations to take part in future space research and exploration.
The Dubai Media Office commemorated the Hope Probes’ success by releasing photos of babies born on February 9th at hospitals in Dubai and Sharjah. They also posted two videos on their Instagram account – one in arabic and one in english – which show the babies receiving the “Future Astronaut” Emirati space suit.
“We are happy to welcome new born babies to the world on such a special day. February 9, 2021 will be forever remembered as the day Arabs reached Mars for the first time in history. The Hope probe, launched as part of the Emirates Mars Mission, is now exploring the Red Planet in a new chapter of the UAE’s inspiring story that proves nothing is impossible and sets an example for the next generations in the region to follow” – Khaled AlShehhi, Executive Director Marketing and Communications, the UAE Government Media Office
This exceptional gift will always be a reminder to the babies – and to their families – that the UAE is a place where they can achieve anything they set their minds to.