Some have already found it, others are still searching for lost North

Spanish space industry executives are eagerly following the Martian missions, especially the successes of Al Amal from the United Arab Emirates and Tianwen-1 from China, which have successfully entered the orbit of the Red Planet. Also the US Mars2020 probe, still on its way, which incorporates a national weather station on the Perseverance rover, built to be the largest mobile laboratory ever to roam the surface of the Red Planet.

All the Spanish businessmen who day after day battle it out in the competitive global space market are struck by the Gulf country's determined commitment to space. As the fifth nation to reach the Red Planet alone, this merit is the result of a strategic decision that has been very well studied, analysed and considered by the Abu Dhabi authorities, with the declared intention of assuming an outstanding position of international leadership, which is what should be expected of countries with greater political, economic and demographic potential.

The CEO of DAS Photonics, Javier Martí, is well acquainted with the Emirates, its businessmen and the authorities directly involved in space affairs. As the head of the Spanish company that is a pioneer in applying the most advanced photonics to defence, aeronautics and space systems, Martí frequently travels to Abu Dhabi, Dubai and other cities to meet his clients and present his new products.

"When you are in the Emirates and take part in the events that are organised there, you realise that it is a very prosperous nation," explains Javier Martí, "where its leaders made a commitment years ago to invest selectively in strategic sectors, especially in space. In his repeated visits, the Spanish businessman has observed that the authorities' ultimate goal is to turn the country "into a major player in the world space sector" and they are immersed in a project to establish a settlement on Mars by the end of the next decade and in a selective process to double the number of astronauts from two to four.

The original idea to travel to Mars emerged in late 2013 at an informal meeting convened by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and held at one of the resorts on the island of Sir Beni Yas, a nature reserve for the region's flora and fauna.

In a relaxed atmosphere and in a 'brainstorming' format, the conference aimed to get Emirati government ministers, senior officials and top advisors to share their ideas for moving away from an oil and business-based economy towards the creation of an industrial and scientific technology base. It was also intended to gather suggestions for commemorating the 50th anniversary of the nation's founding in 2021 in style.

As a result of this meeting, President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan gave the green light to the Al Amal Martian mission and in 2014 to the creation of the UAE Space Agency. To be aware of the merit of such a move, suffice it to say that such an organisation has yet to become a reality in Spain. Despite having an important space industry and various projects underway, none of the successive Spanish governments, regardless of their political orientation, has dared to create an organisation that brings together and channels the various efforts in space matters that are scattered among five ministries.

While the daisy is being plucked and those holding the reins of government are waiting for the most suitable political moment to set up the national space organisation to which the whole sector aspires, the businessmen are following their course. This is the case of Diego Rodríguez, a veteran of the Spanish space industry who is currently the General Manager of Space and Science Business Development at the Spanish company SENER Aeroespacial.

From his perspective, the success achieved by the Emirates with Al Amal represents "the realisation that all nations, when they reach a certain economic level, realise that new technologies have their field of application in space, which is fundamental to continue promoting their development and prosperity". Global investment in space "is increasing and having our own space capabilities is essential," says Diego Rodríguez. A warning to navigators.

Jorge Potti, vice-president of the space branch of the Spanish Association of Defence, Security, Aeronautics and Space Technologies (TEDAE) and general space director of the Spanish technology multinational GMV, expressed a similar opinion. In his opinion, the success of the Emirates' space probe "is a sign of the extraordinary scientific and technological contribution offered by the sector and of the growing interest in space exploration". This attraction is reflected in the many billions of dollars invested year after year by government institutions and private companies in countries that want to play a leading role in the space sector. In contrast, other countries simply join in the initiatives proposed by others.

Together with the missions to the Red Planet and other celestial bodies led by the United States, China, Japan, India, Israel and the European Space Agency (ESA), the Gulf country's achievement is "a further incentive for Spanish industry and our authorities to continue their commitment to playing an increasingly important role in missions to explore the cosmos", says Potti. 

The fourth industrial revolution has found Spain, as with the previous three, mired in domestic conflicts with serious internal consequences, making it difficult for many politicians with high executive responsibilities to see beyond the headline of the next day's television news. It is true that the delicate domestic situation is aggravated by a severe economic crisis dragging on as a result of COVID-19.

But the pandemic is also affecting the world's most developed nations, especially those that steer the destinies of the European Union. However, they have their goals clearly defined and know that they must make a decisive commitment to space. Other nations, on the other hand, are following and following a long and tortuous path in search of the lost North.