Director General of the King Abdullah II Fund for Development, Dr. Samer Al-Mufleh, said: "Supporting entrepreneurial projects constitutes one of the important paths to enhance innovation and expand economic and developmental opportunities."
He emphasized that the Fund's role is not limited to supporting promising ideas, but extends to supporting projects that possess potential for growth and development, and employ knowledge and technology to provide new models capable of creating a sustainable impact.
He added: The "MENA Orbit" project represents a model for entrepreneurial initiatives that invest in national potential and link innovation, scientific research, and tourism, thereby enhancing the diversity of economic sectors and opening new fields for Jordanian talent, especially in promising scientific and technological areas.
The project aims to employ the geographical and natural characteristics that distinguish Wadi Rum to simulate some of the conditions on the Martian surface, benefiting from the similarity of its desert terrain to some natural landscapes on the Red Planet, to provide a training and scientific environment that simulates aspects of life and work within an isolated space habitat.
The mission includes a set of scientific and operational activities that simulate the requirements of living and working in space environments, most notably hydroponic experiments, the implementation of medical procedures and emergency protocols, resource management, adherence to operational procedures, and organizing communication between crew members and the mission control center, in addition to documenting data and observations related to the executed activities.
The mission also includes Extravehicular Activity (EVA) operations, during which two astronauts wearing specialized simulation suits carry out field tasks in the terrain of Wadi Rum during the day and night, including geographical exploration, documenting the characteristics of the surrounding environment, and executing scientific tasks according to specific plans and procedures.
Operations are managed through the Mission Control Center (MCC), under the supervision of a specialized Jordanian team that handles the monitoring of operational, scientific, and medical aspects, coordinates with crew members, oversees field experiments and activities, and monitors safety and emergency procedures, thereby enhancing adherence to the protocols adopted within the simulation.
The project reflects the potential of employing the unique natural environment in Wadi Rum to develop educational and tourism products based on knowledge and technology, which enhances the diversity of tourism experiences in the Kingdom and opens horizons for attracting those interested in space science from inside and outside Jordan, in addition to encouraging youth to explore research and professional opportunities in scientific and technical fields.
The King Abdullah II Fund for Development, through the "Riyada" program, continues to support entrepreneurial projects that carry innovative ideas and invest in promising opportunities, thereby enhancing the role of entrepreneurship in development and contributing to building projects capable of development, expansion, and achieving added value for the national economy and society.
