The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center announces the success of a scientific experiment by UAE University students on board the International Space Station

The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center announced the successful implementation of a scientific experiment developed by students from the United Arab Emirates University, representing the UAE, on board the International Space Station, as part of the Asian Try Zero-G 2025 competition led by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), in cooperation with a number of space agencies and entities, including the Centre.

The 2025 edition of the competition witnessed the participation of 11 teams representing nine countries, reflecting an advanced level of regional interaction with space science and student innovations. The UAE’s participation came under the supervision of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, as part of its ongoing efforts to promote science and open broader horizons for students to participate in applied research.
The closing event included presentations from the participating teams, followed by a live broadcast of the implementation of experiments on board the International Space Station. The UAE University team, consisting of six students and a faculty member, represented the country remotely, as they followed the implementation of their experience live on board the station.

Experience
The experiment was titled “Study of harmonic motion and the effect of diminishing motion in microgravity,” and was carried out by NASA astronaut Christopher Williams inside the Japanese experiment unit “Kibo,” in an achievement that embodies the progress of Emirati student research in the microgravity environment.

The experiment was developed by a team of engineering students, and focused on analyzing the harmonic motion of a system consisting of a spring and a mass, and how it gradually slows down in a microgravity environment. The results of this study contribute to deepening the understanding of the behavior of mechanical systems in space, supporting the development of applications related to satellite operations and experiments carried out on board the station.

Before the final stage, the students conducted a series of ground experiments using different blocks, with the tests repeated to ensure the accuracy and consistency of the results. This practical approach formed a solid basis for adapting the experiment to microgravity conditions on board the International Space Station.

Selection of participants
The implementation of this experience comes as a culmination of the selection of the United Arab Emirates University team, which qualified through a competitive process at the state level, which included 17 proposals submitted by 74 students from eight universities in various parts of the country. The initiative was not limited only to the final experience, but also contributed to the involvement of a wider segment of students, as their ideas contributed to enriching the scientific movement within the program.