UK-Bahrain project to track Gulf greenhouse gas emissions

TDT | Manama                                                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

A joint project between Bahrain and the UK has received a major funding boost to track greenhouse gas emissions across the Gulf region using a small spacecraft.

A total of £13 million (BD6,105,088) was announced at the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs to fund eleven international space projects, fostering collaboration and innovation across the sector.

This includes a £1.4 million (BD657,471) investment for the Bahrain-UK project, which involves the University of Leicester and Geospatial Insight Ltd. from the UK alongside Bahrain’s National Space Science Agency.

“This initiative is one of eleven receiving additional funding from the UK Space Agency, showcasing the best of UK space expertise on the international stage,” said Dr. Paul Bate, head of the UK Space Agency.

“Through collaboration, we can break new ground, improve our understanding of the universe, and leverage space for the benefit of Earth.”

This project will pioneer the use of small spacecraft to monitor greenhouse gas emissions in the Gulf, and the technology will represent a significant advancement in compact and targeted emission monitoring techniques.

“The UK has some of the most brilliant minds in space science, aerospace engineering, and a thriving commercial space industry,” said UK Space Minister Andrew Griffith.

“It’s no wonder the world seeks collaboration with Britain in space exploration. I’m excited to support these new collaborations with partners from the US, Australia, Canada, India, and Singapore.”

Beyond the Gulf emission monitoring project, the funding supports diverse initiatives like developing safe nuclear fission in space and a space-based agriculture project for low-gravity plant growth.