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.

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In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How Dr. El-Maarry’s passion for both space and geology led him to planetary science

2. What it’s like to work on missions to Mars, comets, and the Kuiper Belt

3. The UAE’s vision for space exploration and science education

4. Why international collaboration is vital to advancing space technology

5. How an asteroid came to be named after Dr. El-Maarry—and why it matters

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Timestamps:

00:00:34 – Dr. El-Maarry’s early life and educational path

00:05:24 – Discovering planetary geology and defying expectations in Egypt

00:12:07 – Working with NASA and ESA on Mars missions

00:18:14 – Falling in love with comets through ESA’s Rosetta mission

00:25:14 – From Mars to comets: expanding a research focus to icy worlds

00:30:03 – Joining NASA’s New Horizons mission to Arrokoth

00:36:43 – The challenge of reaching Uranus and Neptune

00:37:29 – The UAE’s space exploration program: Hope mission, lunar plans, and asteroid tour

00:45:12 – The role of international collaboration in space research

00:48:23 – Space exploration as a catalyst for education and technology

00:54:11 – Why planetary science constantly evolves—and why that’s exciting

00:57:15 – Tangible innovations born from space research

00:57:46 – How an asteroid got Dr. El-Maarry’s name

01:01:55 – What Dr. El-Maarry is most curious about today: solar system formation and exoplanets

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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/

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