On this episode of Go! For Launch, planetary scientist Dr. Mohamed Ramy El-Maarry joins hosts Audrey and MacKenzie to share his incredible journey—from growing up in Egypt dreaming about space and dinosaurs, to working on missions for ESA, NASA, and the UAE Space Agency. Now an associate professor at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, Dr. El-Maarry is helping lead planetary science education and exploration across the Middle East.He walks us through his winding path into planetary geology, the serendipity of working on comet 67P with ESA’s Rosetta mission, and the experience of joining NASA’s New Horizons flyby of Arrokoth—one of the most distant objects ever visited. Along the way, we explore the UAE’s ambitious plans for Mars, the Moon, and asteroid missions, and how global collaboration is fueling the next chapter of space science.This episode is a must-listen for aspiring planetary scientists, space enthusiasts, and anyone wondering how curiosity and courage can shape a world-class career—even when you start far from the world’s biggest space agencies.—In this episode, you’ll learn:1. How Dr. El-Maarry’s passion for both space and geology led him to planetary science2. What it’s like to work on missions to Mars, comets, and the Kuiper Belt3. The UAE’s vision for space exploration and science education4. Why international collaboration is vital to advancing space technology5. How an asteroid came to be named after Dr. El-Maarry—and why it matters—Timestamps:00:00:34 – Dr. El-Maarry’s early life and educational path00:05:24 – Discovering planetary geology and defying expectations in Egypt00:12:07 – Working with NASA and ESA on Mars missions00:18:14 – Falling in love with comets through ESA’s Rosetta mission00:25:14 – From Mars to comets: expanding a research focus to icy worlds00:30:03 – Joining NASA’s New Horizons mission to Arrokoth00:36:43 – The challenge of reaching Uranus and Neptune00:37:29 – The UAE’s space exploration program: Hope mission, lunar plans, and asteroid tour00:45:12 – The role of international collaboration in space research00:48:23 – Space exploration as a catalyst for education and technology00:54:11 – Why planetary science constantly evolves—and why that’s exciting00:57:15 – Tangible innovations born from space research00:57:46 – How an asteroid got Dr. El-Maarry’s name01:01:55 – What Dr. El-Maarry is most curious about today: solar system formation and exoplanets—Helpful Links:• Dr. Mohamed Ramy El-Maarry – Khalifa University profile https://ku.ac.ae/college-people/mohamed-ramy-el-maarry • Rosetta Mission Overview – ESA https://esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Rosetta_overview• New Horizons and Arrokoth – NASA https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/kuiper-belt/arrokoth-2014-mu69/• Emirates Mars Mission – Hope Probe https://emiratesmarsmission.ae/Follow Accelerator Media:https://x.com/xceleratormediahttps://instagram.com/xcelerator.media/https://linkedin.com/company/accelerator-media-org—This podcast is produced by volunteers at Accelerator Media, a nonprofit educational media organization. Our work is supported by listeners and viewers like you. If you’d like to help us ignite curiosity and inspire long-term thinking about our shared future, please consider volunteering with us or making a donation: https://acceleratormedia.org/donate/

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