This Future Explorers episode takes you on a space journey at Expo 2020. We explore the Mobility Pavilion, taste delicious space snacks, and hear from astronauts about their experience among the stars. Photosensitivity warning: Some areas in Live@Expo broadcasts may feature bright flashing effects that may affect photosensitive viewers.

 Ep 9: Astronauts at Al Wasl, Bulgaria and Alif - The Mobility Pavilion

211104 Live@Expo Visual DEC-02 - 2

We celebrate Space Week at Expo 2020 Dubai with a journey through the out-of-this-world Mobility Pavilion. Spoiler: we will meet astronauts!

Explore the out-of-this-world Mobility Pavilion.

Join us as we sample astronaut chocolate at the Bulgaria Pavilion.

Create a Twitch account to join the chat and earn points!

Interactive, chat-driven tour co-curated by you, the audience.

Earn badges, go on treasure hunts and top the leaderboard!

Inside Expo: The Evolution of Robots

Inside Expo: Redefining Mobility I: Not Just Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Inside Expo: Redefining Mobility II: The Giants of Mobility

The Powerhouse Pavilions

Alif Pavilion

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Alif 

In today’s hyperconnected world, mobility is more important than ever – so what better way to embody this than through a visionary structure that looks ready to take flight? With its space-age contours and awe-inspiring exhibits, Alif – The Mobility Pavilion offers visitors an immersive journey through the spectrum of human movement. 

But Mobility – one of Expo’s three main subthemes – is also about moving ideas. Take the lift to the pavilion’s top floor and undertake a voyage into the often-invisible ways that mobility unites us, from the campfire of a nomadic Bedouin all the way through the ultra-connected cities of humanity’s future.


Alif - Lift

Visitors ride the world’s largest passenger lift, which can transport more than 160 people at a time. The Bedouin girl in the middle of the lift is illuminated, reaching up towards the stars, symbolising the desire to reach new heights.

The world’s largest passenger lift 

The giants of mobility: Al Bakri (11th century), Ibn Battuta (14th century), Ibn Majid (15th century)

The giants of mobility 

Nine-metre-tall photo-realistic giants of mobility from the golden age of Arab civilisation, including 15th Century seafarer and navigator Ibn Majid, 11th Century historian and geographer Al-Bakri, and 14th Century explorer Ibn Battuta.

The giants of early exploration

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Future cities merging imagination and design are dreamed up by children and projected an immersive space that explores the limitless possibilities that lay ahead for mankind

Immersive virtual installations   

Features

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Image Gallery

Timelapse: Alif – The Mobility Pavilion

Videos

Mobility Pavilion 360

The heart-pounding motion of speeding ideas and vehicles alike take shape in Alif – The Mobility Pavilion: a ribbed, curvy, three-sided structure wrapped in highly reflective stainless steel metal cladding, inspired by chrome fenders and aircraft wings. Alif's mirror-like surface captures movement, making the building seem alive and in motion. 

Mobility Pavilion

ready to take flight

A visionary structure 

The Mobility Pavilion 

Alif

Watch the creation of Alif - The Mobility Pavilion as it rises out of the desert sands.

Timelapse

Timelapse of Alif

Bulgaria cover

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Bulgaria Image Gallery

With lofty mountains in the west, the glistening Black Sea in the east and plenty of cosy mineral springs in between, Bulgaria boasts a wealth of stunning sights to explore. And as the Bulgaria Pavilion at Expo 2020 shows, the Balkan nation offers much more: from rich culture to high-tech innovation to winter sports. Exhibits include a (virtual) walk across the bed of the Black Sea, 3D projections of the nation’s beautiful landscapes, and traditional Bulgarian folk dances.


Bulgaria Logo

Bulgaria intro image

Bulgaria Pavilion

Live@Expo Ep 9: Astronauts at Al Wasl, Bulgaria and Alif - The Mobility Pavilion

Welcome to an interactive live tour where you and a community of virtual visitors from around the world control where the guide goes and what you see! Earn points and top the leaderboard, win badges and reveal treasures. Your points convert to Seeds of Change which you can pledge to the cause of your choice.

Live@Expo

Join a new virtual tour of the Expo! You control where the guide goes as they explore Expo 2020.

L&E logo

We bring together space heroes from across the globe for an out-of-this-world experience in the heart of Expo 2020 - Al Wasl Plaza. Be enthralled by a stunning audio-visual show that brings the universe to you and meet the extraordinary explorers who have dedicated their lives to the exploration of the great unknown. 

Launch into Space at Expo 2020

Astronauts Al Wasl

Meet astronauts from around the world in a spectacular show in Al Wasl Plaza, with remarks by Her Excellency Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology and Chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency.

Architecture II: Al Wasl Plaza

EXHIBITOR Magazine's World Expo Awards

EXHIBITOR Magazine Announces World Expo Award Winners

Al Wasl Plaza

Al Wasl 

Al Wasl Plaza Images

Expo 2020 Dubai, the first Expo in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region in the 170 years of World Expo history, opened with a celebration of global togetherness and optimism. Spectacular storytelling, performances, fireworks, and immersive projections on the dome of Al Wasl, the heart of Expo 2020, all told a story of collaboration and hope for the future, echoing Expo 2020 Dubai's theme of "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future". Global artists joining in the celebration included Andrea Bocelli, Ellie Goulding, Lang Lang and Mohammed Abdu.

Description 

The first World Expo in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, Expo 2020 opened with a celebration of global connection and hope for the future.

Expo 2020 Dubai Opening Ceremony

Long ago, travellers referred to Dubai as Al Wasl, or “the connection” – a name that reflects the area’s heritage as a meeting point. This spirit of coming together takes shape in Al Wasl Plaza, Expo 2020’s spectacular centrepiece and gathering ground for celebration and wonder. 

Situated at the meeting point of Expo’s three thematic districts, Al Wasl Plaza's dome is tall enough to fit the Leaning Tower of Pisa beneath it. By night, she transforms into a 360-degree projection screen, blanketed by more than 250 state-of-the-art projectors. Al Wasl Plaza is a hub for visitors and the vibrant heart of our Expo.

Daily performances, national day ceremonies and more

Immersive 360-degree domed projection screen

Lush garden spaces for relaxation and connection

Al Wasl features

Al Wasl Logo-01

Al Wasl Plaza 360

Al Wasl Plaza is 130 metres in diameter and more than 67 metres tall. Delicate-looking despite its titanic scale, her pattern is inspired by our Expo's logo, which is fully visible at the oculus.

and magical

Extraordinary

The life force of the Expo 2020 site, Al Wasl Plaza proudly carries the old name of Dubai.

The beating heart of Expo 2020

A series of immersive 360° videos of Al Wasl's projection shows that put you centre stage for each stunning performance. 

Al Wasl Plaza 360° Immersive Experiences

The Beating Heart of Expo 2020

Inside Expo: The Next Great Frontier 

Space travel and exploration has captured imaginations for generations and the dream of space tourism is now closer to being a reality than ever. At the same time, with outer space remaining one of our few truly shared resources, peacefully managing this distant realm remains crucial. During this fascinating week, we highlight the latest innovations in space research and travel, while also providing a platform to discuss critical issues.

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How do we safely and productively explore new frontiers?

Insight Report from Space Week

Space Week

Space Theme Week Video

Astronauts @ Al Wasl

Technological innovations developed for space exploration such as manned spaceflight offer rich potential for us here on Earth. At a time when efficient resource management is critical, we need to extract from the deep connection between space exploration and climate change.When in orbit, astronauts recycle everything on board, and learn to reproduce oxygen, water, and food from waste. They are trained to sustain prolonged periods in confined spaces and embrace their environment’s limitations by using innovative alternatives to their routines on Earth. How do we take these valuable lessons of circular living and self-sustaining approaches and apply them on this planet? 

How adopting practices of recycling by astronauts help us act sustainably.

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How living like astronauts and adopting their practices of recycling may help us act sustainably.

Session programme - Lessons from Space

Learnings and insights from the World Majlis conversations on Space

Lessons from Space - Documents

India 1

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India Image gallery


With its enormous population and diversity of ancient traditions, India is a place of incredible richness and complexity. The India Pavilion offers a new take on the country that goes beyond its famed culture and stunning landscapes to show a rising economic power that is very much open for business. The pavilion focuses on “New India”, an emerging global hub for innovation, inspiration and investment. Its wide variety of exhibits feature not just the food, tea and Bollywood entertainment that so many know and love, but also the country’s modern-day advancements in technology, aerospace, manufacturing and more.


India flag

The India pavilion is a four-level rectangular structure, covered on its upper three floors with rotating tiles in hues of red, orange, and white. 

This kinetic exterior surface also serves as a screen for projected images, such as the face of Mahatma Gandhi. The bottom level features a plate-glass façade. 

India 2 

India

New 

India Pavilion

World majlis Space 1

World Majlis Space 2

World Majlis Space 3

World Majlis Space 4

Saeed Al Gergawi is the Director of the Dubai Future Academy, the capacity-building arm of the Dubai Future Foundation, which works in building and develop capacity in future foresight by empowering leaders with the skills necessary to adapt to the future. Prior to joining the Dubai Future Foundation, Saeed worked as the Program Manager for the “Mars 2117” initiative at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space 
Centre, the UAE’s 100-year space exploration strategy. In addition, Saeed was a member of the strategic planning team for the Emirates Mars Exploration Project “Probe of Hope”. 

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Saeed Al Gergawi

Yamazaki earned a Master of Engineering degree majored in Aerospace Engineering from University of Tokyo in 1996, then started working for current Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.  In 1999, she was selected as an astronaut candidate and was qualified as a Soyuz-TMA Flight Engineer in 2004 and NASA Mission Specialist in 2006. On April 5, 2010 Yamazaki was onboard Space Shuttle Discovery on the crew of STS-131, an assembly & resupply mission to the International Space Station.  After retiring from JAXA in 2011, Yamazaki has been serving as a member of Japan Space Policy Committee of Cabinet Office, and devoting herself to space education as an adviser of Young Astronaut Club and a chairperson of “Sorajo (women in aerospace)” under Japanese Rocket Society.  


Naoko Yamazaki (Japan)

Engineer & former Japanese astronaut, JAXA 


Naoko Yamazaki	

As Executive Manager at EPFL Space Center, ESpace is an interdisciplinary unit responsible for the federation of space activities at the school, which hosts a research initiative on sustainable space 
logistics and the Space Sustainability Rating. Emmanuelle has 10 years’ experience in space transportation in academia, agency and industry from pre-development projects up to launch operations. She holds Space Engineering degrees both from the University of Technology of Compiegne, France, and the Technical 
University of Braunschweig, Germany. She has completed in 2021 a certificate of advanced studies at the Swiss Institute of Technology in Zürich in Technology and Public Policy : Policy Process. 

Executive manager, EPFL Space Center(eSpace), Swiss Institute of Technlogy, Switzerland 

Emmanuelle David 

He was selected in 1978 in the first group of astronauts of the European Space Agency (ESA), then was detached to the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, for full training as Mission Specialist on the US Space Shuttle, following an agreement between ESA and NASA. After several years of training and various jobs at JSC, he served as a crewmember on four Shuttle missions, including two on-orbit interventions on the Hubble Space Telescope. During his last mission, he performed a spacewalk of more than 8 hours duration to install new equipment on the orbiting observatory. He spent more than 1000 hours in space during these four missions. He is currently a member of Space Innovation in Lausanne, Switzerland, and honorary Professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. 

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Member of Space Innovation/Federal Commission for Space Affairs

Prof Claude Nicollier

Somanath Sreedhara Panicker is the Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which is the lead centre responsible for Launch Vehicle development. 
In the 35 years of service in ISRO, he handled various responsibilities including Director of Liquid Propulsion Centre of ISRO, Associate Director of VSSC, Project Director of GSLV Mk-III Rocket and chief of 
different technology domains. With a strong background in design, development and management of Launch Vehicle Systems, he is presently serving as Chairman of the Management councils of Launch 
Vehicle Programs and ‘Gaganyaan’, the human spaceflight program of ISRO, steering the technology development and management across ISRO.

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Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Indian Space Research Organisation, India

Dr. S Somanath 

Professor Brian P. Schmidt was appointed Vice-Chancellor and President of The Australian National University in January 2016. Winner of the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics, Professor Schmidt was an astrophysicist at the ANU Mount Stromlo Observatory and Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics before becoming Vice-Chancellor. Professor Schmidt received undergraduate degrees in Astronomy and Physics from the University of Arizona, and completed his Astronomy Master's degree and PhD from Harvard University. Under his leadership, in 1998, the High-Z Supernova Search team made the startling discovery that the expansion rate of the Universe is accelerating. Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, The United States Academy of Science, and the Royal Society, he was made a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2013.



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Vice-Chancellor and President, The Australian National University; 2011 Nobel Laureate Physics

Prof. Brian Schmidt

Abdulla joined the UAE Space Agency in 2016, and currently is acting head for Space Science and Technology Section. He’s part the Emirates Mars Mission working in the thermal subsystem of the hope probe. Abdulla has also worked in various activities in the 4th Industrial revolution technologies including Virtual Reality (VR) and Nanotechnologies applications within the space-sector. He’s certified Project Management Professional and PMI Agile Certified Practitioner by the PMI. Published journal and conference papers on Predictions of UAE's renewable energy mix in 2030, Feasibility study of launching rockets from UAE, Designing the first Mars Glider, and Utilizing the nanofluids in the thermal management of small satellite that was presented in International Astronautical Congress, in Australia and United States. 

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Acting Head for Space Science and Technology Section

Abdulla Ahmad Alshehhi 

Gioia Massa is a NASA scientist at Kennedy Space Center working on space crop production for the International Space Station and future exploration endeavors. She conducts research to study nutrition and flavor of space-grown crops, supports science in a variety of space station hardware, and works with external investigators. She is active in education and outreach programs related to plants in space. She has a BS in Plant Science from Cornell, a PhD in Plant Biology from Penn State, and postdoctoral research from Purdue and Kennedy Space Center. She has worked in the areas of plant space biology and bioregenerative life support.


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Life Sciences Project Scientist, Kennedy Space Center

Dr. Gioia D. Massa

Kiran Kumar is an Indian space scientist and former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation, having assumed office on 14 January 2015. He is credited with the development of key scientific instruments aboard the Chandrayaan-1 and Mangalyaan space crafts. In 2014, he was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award, for his contributions to the fields of science and technology. Kiran Kumar previously served as Director of Ahmedabad Space Applications Centre.

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Distinguished Professor, Chairman, PRL and Former Chairman, ISRO, India 

Prof Aluru Seelin Kiran Kumar 

World Majlis | Lessons from Space: Applying Approaches from Space to Fight Climate Change

World Expos have always been meeting places for people across cultures and geographies; an opportunity to come together and celebrate human ingenuity and forge meaningful human connections. As the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, and with the participation of more than 192 countries, Expo 2020 Dubai looks to take this legacy even further. The Build Bridges track of Expo 2020 Dubai’s Programme for People and Planet features a tapestry of event series and experiences that celebrate our common humanity and the vital connections that can help us prosper together as a worldwide community.

Knowing One Another Better

Build Bridges image

Build Bridges 

Build Bridges Icon

Explore a series of exciting conversations inspired by the theme of Expo 2020 Dubai. The World Majlis is a vibrant forum where diverse points of views are shared on important topics of our time. Each conversation brings together globally recognised thought-leaders who are invited for their exceptional contributions to the theme and their unique perspective on the topic. In each Majlis, students and members of the public are also welcome to contribute and engage.

World Majlis

Conversations on complex issues that bring together thought leaders, visionaries and changemakers.

Live@Expo Ep 9: Astronauts at Al Wasl, Bulgaria and Alif - The Mobility Pavilion

Ep 9: Astronauts at Al Wasl, Bulgaria and Alif - The Mobility Pavilion

Highlights

Participants

Live@Expo.