The King Abdullah II Fund for Development (KAFD), through its Riyada Program, has funded MENA Education and Training Company to conduct its second Mars simulation mission under the “MENA-01-WR Mars Mission” project in Wadi Rum, Aqaba Governorate. The Jordanian initiative combines space science, scientific research, practical training and educational tourism.
KAFD’s support for the project comes as part of its efforts to empower innovative, knowledge-based entrepreneurial ventures and support promising ideas with the potential for growth and sustainability. These efforts aim to transform innovative concepts into value-added projects, opening new horizons for Jordanian youth to develop solutions and initiatives that respond to emerging opportunities and future trends.
Dr. Al-Mofleh, Director General of the King Abdullah II Fund for Development, said that supporting entrepreneurial ventures is an important pathway to fostering innovation and expanding economic and development opportunities. He emphasized that the Fund’s role extends beyond supporting promising ideas to backing projects with the potential to grow and evolve, harnessing knowledge and technology to introduce new models capable of generating sustainable impact.
Dr. Al-Mofleh added that the MENA project represents an example of entrepreneurial initiatives that invest in national capabilities and bring together innovation, scientific research and tourism, contributing to the diversification of economic sectors and creating new opportunities for Jordanian talent, particularly in promising scientific and technological fields.
The project aims to utilize Wadi Rum’s distinctive geographical and natural features to simulate certain conditions on the surface of Mars. Drawing on the similarities between its desert terrain and some of the Red Planet’s landscapes, the project provides a scientific and training environment that replicates aspects of living and working in an isolated space habitat.
The mission includes a range of scientific and operational activities designed to simulate the requirements of living and working in space environments. These include hydroponic farming experiments, medical procedures and emergency protocols, resource management, adherence to operational procedures, communication between crew members and Mission Control, and the documentation of data and observations related to the activities conducted.
The mission also features extravehicular activities (EVAs), during which two astronauts wearing specialized simulation spacesuits carry out field missions across Wadi Rum’s terrain during both daytime and nighttime. These activities include geographical exploration, documenting the characteristics of the surrounding environment, and conducting scientific tasks in accordance with established plans and procedures.
Operations are managed through the Mission Control Center (MCC), under the supervision of a specialized Jordanian team responsible for overseeing operational, scientific and medical aspects, coordinating with crew members, supervising experiments and field activities, and monitoring safety and emergency procedures in accordance with the protocols adopted for the simulation.
The project highlights the potential of leveraging Wadi Rum’s unique natural environment to develop knowledge- and technology-based educational and tourism products. It also contributes to diversifying tourism experiences in the Kingdom, attracting space science enthusiasts from Jordan and abroad, and encouraging young people to explore research and career opportunities in scientific and technological fields.
Through its Riyada Program, the King Abdullah II Fund for Development continues to fund entrepreneurial ventures driven by innovative ideas and promising opportunities, strengthening the role of entrepreneurship in development and contributing to the growth and expansion of projects that generate added value for the national economy and society.