£100m Martian City planned for Dubai desert to simulate life on Red Planet
The Mars Science City project will cover 1.9 million square feet of desert.
A giant city built under domes in the desert could be used to prepare Earthlings for life on Mars.
The £100 million Mars Science City will cover 1.9 million square feet of Emirati desert and offer the most realistic model of simulated Martian living.
Plans have been revealed by the UAE government, which is working with architect Bjarke Ingels on the massive project.
The UAE government wants to attract scientists from around the world to the project which it unveiled this week.
UAE Prime Minister and Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, also the Ruler of Dubai, said: “The UAE is a great country with vision and understanding of the challenges we face and the rapid changes our world is experiencing.
“We believe in the potential of space exploration, and in collaborating with global partners and leaders in order to harness the findings of this research and movement that seeks to meet people’s needs and improve quality of life on earth.”
The Mars Science City structure will be “the most sophisticated building (in) the world”, says the UAE government. It will incorporate a realistic simulation environment replicating the conditions on the surface of Mars.
Sections of the walls will be 3D printed, using sand from the Emirati desert.
It comes as tech entrepreneur and SpaceX founder Elon Musk says he wants to get people on Mars within the next decade.
The creation of Mars Science City is led by a team from the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre and Dubai Municipality.
