Bahrain for Space Race?

[Che Guevara]

Today's GDN, letters to the editor:


Watch this space
Posted on » Friday, July 17, 2009


Bahrain is making headlines everywhere, human rights, F1 races, huge buildings, petroleum, airlines and also in tourism.
But when it comes to space programmes, Bahrain is nowhere. Why?
I think Bahrain should prove to the world that it can conduct space programmes and can send a shuttle to the space without any help from other countries!
Jomon

(Hopefully this is tongue in cheek, but you never know!) :eek:

[tbaylx]

Well is suspect they'd certainly make headlines if they attemtped a launch:ooh:

[Mike.Park]

This has got to be a joke!

[Panama Jack]

Sadly, Bahrain's space legacy is history, with the former Soviet Space Shuttle Buran having left Mina Salman last year. You can see it in a German museum now though.

Aerospaceweb.org | Ask Us - Analog Buran Test Vehicle (http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/spacecraft/q0241.shtml)

On the bright side though, NASA is terminating their shuttle program in another 7 flights. Perhaps some visionary Bahrainis want to pick up the pieces at US Gov't surplus prices before the Maktoum's do? I think Amwaj would be a good lauching site-- close to the water and from a distance looks a little like Cape Canaveral.

Imagine!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/32/96270079_a55d36b5db.jpg?v=0

[ODMEA]

No No, you've all got it wrong..the truth is the retiring space shuttles will be joining GF's fleet soon. GF bought them for an undisclosed amount. GF was quoted as stating they were in the process of acquiring the most advanced fleet of aircraft in the world. This was GF's last salvo in thwarting an EY/EK dominance in the region. This was the new CEO's first executive decision to get GF "back on track" with project "(Empty)Space Falcon" It is proposed that JET pilots will crew the shuttles while managers from HR, Frequent Flyer and Staff travel are trained by NASA in the US to fly them. The training is estimated to take 7 weeks.

The grape vine seems to indicate the SS's will be doing the GCC runs and maybe some BEY's and CAI's in peak periods:E

[Panama Jack]

Ah, this development (which I was unaware of) and the 4 new Iraqi destinations clearly outlines Gulf Air's new strategy-- "To boldly go where no man has gone before!"

The Shuttle should fit in with with current CCQ training, Space Shuttle . . . . Airbus . . . . Shuttle . . . . bus . . . . Shuttlebus . . . we've heard of that before.

The flight deck layout is similar with CRT's and like the Airbus, it has a joystick instead of a big control wheel. Mind you, American ingenuity put the joystick in the centre of each pilot's station, between the pilot's legs for a more natural feel (why did the French put it on one side?). I think most of us can relate to this configuration and so the transition should go well-- just remember like on the Airbus A320, 330 and 340 line of aircraft not to overcontrol.

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-101/hires/s99_01418.jpg

[Che Guevara]

Nice pic PJ.
It seems you can actually see Bahrain from space which is a relief...;)

[Panama Jack]

As you can see in the photo, Che, Bahrain is totally behind the Space Shuttle! :ok:

All systems go!

[Che Guevara]

So all we need now is for the GAA to advertise for Astronaut trainees, of course they will be offered loans to pay for their training etc.

[Mike.Park]

At least they'll be able to keep their GAA acronym.

Gulf Aerospace Academy

[Mike.Park]

This in today's GDN (http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=255843) letters page.

Model planes?

Posted on » Sunday, July 19, 2009

I would appreciate if the concerned authority would clarify if flying remote controlled planes and helicopters as a hobby is permitted in Bahrain.

I saw some people do this in the UAE last week in an isolated desert area and want to know if we can take it up as a hobby here.

If yes, are there any specifications for these flying remote controlled toys?
RC Toys enthusiast

Editor's note: "Flying remote controlled model planes is strictly forbidden in Bahrain."

[Che Guevara]

"Flying remote controlled model planes is strictly forbidden in Bahrain."

Pretty pathetic isn't it. :sad:

[Panama Jack]

Extremely pathetic.

Even in the normally paranoid Saudi Arabia, the authorities have gotten beyond their phobia, so now there is one more activity to do in the Magic Kingdom besides shopping and wasting away at shisha cafés.

Saudi Aviation club - About us (http://sac.com.sa/english/Page.aspx?name=aboutus-en)

How did they do it? They got one of the 5000 or so Royals involved, made a requirement for RC pilots to undergo a security background check and get a licence.

No wonder bored youth in Bahrain spend their free time cruising Exhibition Avenue or racing on the freeways. RC provides ambitious young people an avenue to explore aviation. As it is, not here. :ugh:

[Che Guevara]

Today's GDN ;)



PLANS to establish an Arab space agency have stalled, it has emerged. The proposal was first mooted in August 2007 but is yet to make any significant progress, said Bahrain Astronomical Society head Dr Shawqi Al Dallal.
"We are still in the same situation," he told the GDN on the 40th anniversary of America's successful Apollo 11 moon landing mission yesterday.
"We have to hold talks to discuss space agency plans, but nobody has the time," he said.
The Bahrain University physics professor and vice-president of the Arab Union of Astronomy and Space Science, Dr Al Dallal said countries in the region were still keen to form a space agency to assist Arab scientists and research and promote exploration.
"We have some countries in the region that have substantial experience in the building of satellites and this could be useful in the area of space exploration," he said.
"At the moment, this expertise is spread across the countries and they are acting on their own but if we could bring these people together with the support of the Arab League it would be much better."
Although admitting that the plans were still very much in their infancy, Dr Al Dallal said initial contact among union representatives had received positive feedback.
He was unclear about specific activities an Arab space agency might undertake but said the region was satisfied to play the role of an observer in regard to international space exploration.
Dr Al Dallal delivered a lecture to mark the anniversary of the iconic moon landing event at the Youth Innovation Centre in Umm Al Hassam last night.
He recalled how on July 20 1967, as a 19-year-old student, he had been holding a radio on the balcony of his house and following the coverage intently.
He went on to speak about space travel and astronomy and how the subject has changed since the US mission to the moon.
[email protected]

[Spirit]

He recalled how on July 20 1967, as a 19-year-old student, he had been holding a radio on the balcony of his house and following the coverage intently

Magic radio?

Me thinks, he'd been better off betting on sports games with a device like that:}

[Desert Diner]

"We have some countries in the region that have substantial experience in the building of satellites and this could be useful in the area of space exploration," he said.


It's the building of the long range rockets required to lift those satellites (as well as other things) that the west has problems with.:ooh: