From Vision to Execution: The UAE’s Next Space Chapter

In this special episode of Space Cafe Radio, recorded live at the Middle East Space Conference in Oman, Torsten Kriening speaks with His Excellency Salem Al Qubaisi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency, about the remarkable evolution of the UAE as a modern, agile space nation.

In just over a decade, the United Arab Emirates has moved from ambition to execution — building not only missions, but a fully integrated ecosystem spanning exploration, Earth observation, AI-driven analytics, and international cooperation. Today, the focus is clear: scale, multiply, and globalize.

At the heart of this transformation lies the Emirates 2030 Strategy and a bold KPI: “2X everything.” Double the number of companies. Double research output. Double socioeconomic impact. The result? A 35% increase in space companies, now exceeding 300, alongside growing investments in academia, startups, and advanced technologies.

But this is more than numbers.

Al Qubaisi outlines a model built on enablement — streamlined licensing, 100% foreign ownership, “Zero Bureaucracy” initiatives, and seamless one-stop-shop processes designed to accelerate innovation without compromising safety or risk management. The message to the world: the UAE is open, fast, and serious.

Security, he emphasizes, is a pillar — not through militarization, but through enablement. Defense is viewed as a vital customer of space services, reinforcing the role of Earth observation, ISR capabilities, and resilient infrastructure as foundations of sovereignty and economic growth.

Partnership is central. The UAE does not seek isolation or duplication. Instead, it positions itself as a high-quality partner in global supply chains — offering world-class infrastructure, political stability, and access to over 30 comprehensive economic agreements worldwide. The goal is not relocation. It is integration.

From the Arab Space Cooperation Group’s satellite initiatives to an upcoming regional space-data hackathon leveraging new Earth observation assets, the UAE continues to translate inspiration into industrial capability. Astronaut achievements and youth engagement are not symbolic — they are strategic multipliers feeding a rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem.

Looking ahead five years, Al Qubaisi’s vision is pragmatic and ambitious: achieve the 2X target, attract more international co-production, strengthen midstream and downstream industries, and position the UAE as a trusted, competitive node in the global space economy.

This episode of Space Cafe Radio captures a nation that understands momentum — and intends to sustain it. The UAE space story is no longer about proving capability. It is about scaling influence.

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"We have to bring people together. If we want a functioning ecosystem, we have to break these silos."

On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2026, this special episode of Space Café Radio brings together host Laura Todd, Senior Advisor and Editor at SpaceWatch.Global, with Prof. Dr. Rafaela Kraus from the University of the Bundeswehr Munich for a thought-provoking conversation about innovation, education, and the future of Europe’s space and defense ecosystems.

Prof. Kraus works at the intersection of entrepreneurship, technology transfer, and innovation ecosystems, supporting startups and young innovators in security, defense, and space technologies. In this discussion, she shares insights on why diversity of perspectives - across disciplines, experiences, and backgrounds - is not only a matter of fairness, but a critical capability for building resilient innovation ecosystems.

The conversation explores key challenges facing Europe today, including fragmented markets, underdeveloped capital ecosystems for deep-tech startups, and the need to better connect universities, industry, policymakers, and investors. Prof. Kraus emphasizes that innovation rarely happens within isolated sectors - it thrives at the boundaries between disciplines, cultures, and industries.

Laura and Rafaela also reflect on the role of education in shaping future talent. Beyond technical expertise, the next generation of engineers and innovators must develop leadership, economic understanding, communication skills, and entrepreneurial thinking to transform breakthrough ideas into real-world capabilities.

Another powerful theme of the episode is how space and technology are communicated to society. Too often they are framed as either overly complex or inherently dangerous. Instead, Prof. Kraus suggests presenting space exploration as a long-term human endeavor - comparable to the great cathedral-building projects of past centuries - ambitious, collaborative, and inspiring.

Looking ahead, the discussion highlights the importance of breaking down institutional silos, modernizing public-sector structures, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration across academia, startups, and established industry players.

For International Women’s Day, Prof. Kraus leaves listeners with an inspiring message: follow your passion, connect across boundaries, and help build the ecosystems that will shape the future of space and technology.

Or, as Laura Todd put it: "Go for what you enjoy, your passion, and what you love."

Space Café Radio brings you talks, interviews, and reports from the team of SpaceWatchers while out on the road. Each episode has a specific topic, unique content, and a personal touch. Enjoy the show, and let us know your thoughts at

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From Mars to the Moon: The UAE’s Bold Space Vision

In this powerful episode of Space Cafe Radio, recorded live at the Middle East Space Conference 2026 in Muscat, Oman, Torsten Kriening sits down with H.E. Salem Al Marri, Managing Director of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), to reflect on one of the most remarkable space transformations of the past two decades.

From its beginnings in Earth observation with DubaiSat-1 to developing fully indigenous satellite systems, MBRSC has evolved into a project-driven powerhouse - focused not on bureaucracy, but on delivery.

But the story does not stop in orbit around Earth.

🚀 The UAE’s Hope Mars Mission proved that ambitious deep space exploration is possible - even for a young space nation.

🛰️ The astronaut program has delivered long-duration ISS missions and the first Arab spacewalk.

🌕 As a partner in Artemis program, the UAE is building the Gateway airlock - securing seats to lunar orbit, and aiming ultimately for the Moon’s surface.

Salem Al Marri makes one thing clear: these missions are not symbolic milestones. They are capability engines.

Every astronaut mission fuels human life sciences research.

Every deep space challenge strengthens engineering excellence.

Every rover built pushes national talent further.

MBRSC’s philosophy is simple yet powerful:

Think bigger than what seems possible - and build the talent to match it.

From landing a rover on the Moon’s far side to one day placing an Emirati footprint on the lunar surface, the UAE is not chasing headlines - it is building long-term capability.

And perhaps the most inspiring moment of the episode?

When asked what success looks like, Salem Al Marri answers without hesitation:

A human from the UAE standing on the Moon.

That is the vision.

That is the ambition.

And the journey is already underway.

Space Café Radio brings you talks, interviews, and reports from the team of SpaceWatchers while out on the road. Each episode has a specific topic, unique content, and a personal touch. Enjoy the show, and let us know your thoughts at radio@spacewatch.global

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Refueling the Future: How Orbit Fab is Building Gas Stations in Space

Join host Maria Varmazis from T-Minus Space Daily as she sits down with Daniel Faber, CEO of Orbit Fab, at Commercial Space Week in Orlando, Florida for this special guest production for Space Café Radio.

In this fascinating conversation, Daniel reveals how his company is revolutionizing space operations by building the critical infrastructure that will unlock humanity's multi-planetary future - refueling stations in orbit.

Discover:

• How Orbit Fab expanded from a single employee to 25 people in the UK in just three years
• The shocking moment China refueled a satellite and outmaneuvered US spacecraft by burning six years of fuel in 10 minutes
• Why military leaders are finally saying "we need this NOW" after years of skepticism
• The technical challenges of docking spacecraft in a plasma environment with tens of thousands of volts of potential difference
• How self-driving car technology is being repurposed for autonomous spacecraft docking
• Daniel's vision for space refineries that could process asteroid materials into rocket fuel
• Why upgrading satellites in orbit could reduce costs by 90% and increase demand a hundredfold

From hydrazine to xenon, from LEO to GEO, Orbit Fab is building the industrial chemical supply chain that will enable satellite servicing, space manufacturing, and eventually - asteroid mining.

As Daniel says: "Getting humanity off Earth is going to be the most significant thing that's happened since we crawled out of the ocean. Why would I work on anything else?"

Space Café Radio brings you talks, interviews, and reports from the team of SpaceWatchers while out on the road. Each episode has a specific topic, unique content, and a personal touch. Enjoy the show, and let us know your thoughts at radio@spacewatch.global

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Power, Responsibility, and Europe’s Moment of Truth

In this episode of Space Cafe Radio, host Torsten Kriening speaks with Dr. Patrick Keller, Deputy Research Director at the German Council on Foreign Relations, about a world order that is no longer theoretical - but brutally real.

Dr. Keller dismantles one of Europe’s most comfortable assumptions: that international politics is still governed primarily by rules, institutions, and good intentions. That era, he argues, is fading fast. Power - political, economic, military, and technological - is once again the decisive currency. And Europe, especially Germany, must learn to think and act accordingly.

The conversation moves swiftly from abstract geopolitics to concrete consequences. A more transactional United States, shifting signals from Washington, and growing doubts about the long-term credibility of NATO security guarantees force Europe to confront an uncomfortable reality: strategic autonomy is no longer a slogan - it is a necessity.

From Greenland’s geopolitical relevance to the erosion of trust in long-standing alliances, Keller outlines a world in which geography, deterrence, and credibility matter again. In this context, space emerges not as a futuristic add-on, but as a core pillar of sovereignty. Investment in space infrastructure, resilience, and security is no longer optional - it is foundational for national and European defense.

Perhaps most striking is Keller’s call for clarity. Germany, he argues, must distinguish between what is essential and what is merely comfortable. Defense capability, economic competitiveness, technological leadership, and European cohesion must take precedence over symbolic debates and strategic hesitation.

Looking toward 2026, the message is unmistakable: Germany has the weight, the responsibility, and the opportunity to lead - but only if it is willing to act. Leadership, in this new global order, means making hard choices early rather than paying higher prices later.

This episode of Space Cafe Radio is not about alarmism. It is about realism. And about Europe finally stepping into a role it can no longer afford to avoid.

Space Café Radio brings you talks, interviews, and reports from the team of SpaceWatchers while out on the road. Each episode has a specific topic, unique content, and a personal touch. Enjoy the show, and let us know your thoughts at radio@spacewatch.global

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Brazil's Space Sector: 2025 Shifts and Future Outlook

In this episode of Space Cafe Radio, host Torsten Kriening sits down with Ian Grosner, the Head of the Legal Department of the Brazilian Space Agency, Chair of the Working Group on the Definition and Delimitation of Outer Space of COPUOS, Chair of the Latin American and Caribbean Subcommittee (LAC-SC) of the IAF to discuss the significant shifts in Brazil and Latin America's space sector in 2025.

Ian provides insights on how the industry has transitioned from a technology-driven model to a market-oriented approach, emphasizing the essential role of satellites in agriculture, climate policy, and security.

They also talk about the educational impact of small satellite programs, Brazil's progress with the Alcântara launch site, and the challenges faced by the burgeoning space startup ecosystem.

Join us as we explore how Brazil is integrating space-based data to drive economic and strategic outcomes on Earth.

Space Café Radio brings you talks, interviews, and reports from the team of SpaceWatchers while out on the road. Each episode has a specific topic, unique content, and a personal touch. Enjoy the show, and let us know your thoughts at radio@spacewatch.global

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Space Threats and Nordic Perspectives on Security: In-Depth with NOSA's Christian Hauglie-Hanssen

Join us in this insightful episode of Space Cafe Radio, where host Torsten Kriening talks about the critical role of space in security and defense from a Nordic perspective with Christian Hauglie-Hanssen, CEO of the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA). He shares his reflections on 2025 and sheds light on Norway's space-related contributions to NATO and the European Commission.

Hauglie-Hanssen discusses key programs like the Arctic Surveillance Program and the Arctic Satellite Broadband mission, emphasizing their impact on national and regional security. They also talk about the evolving space strategies in Europe and the United States, Germany's significant investment in space defense, and how these moves shape the broader geopolitical landscape.

Don't miss this comprehensive discussion on the challenges and opportunities ahead in 2026 for Norway and its partners.

Space Café Radio brings you talks, interviews, and reports from the team of SpaceWatchers while out on the road. Each episode has a specific topic, unique content, and a personal touch. Enjoy the show, and let us know your thoughts at radio@spacewatch.global

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Inside the DLR: National Security and Space Defense review 2025 with Prof. Dr. Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla

Join us in this episode of Space Cafe Radio as host Torsten Kriening sits down with Inside the DLR: National Security and Space Defense review 2025 with Prof. Dr. Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla, Chairwoman of the German Aerospace Center (DLR). They talk the evolving role of DLR in national security and space defense research, discussing the impact of increased investments in the sector, the importance of dual-use technologies, and the agency's collaboration with startups and European partners.

Discover insights into the future of space defense, robotics in space missions, quantum technologies, and much more. Don't miss this comprehensive overview of the advancements and ambitions in aerospace research.

Space Café Radio brings you talks, interviews, and reports from the team of SpaceWatchers while out on the road. Each episode has a specific topic, unique content, and a personal touch. Enjoy the show, and let us know your thoughts at radio@spacewatch.global

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