NASA ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR EXPANDS SPACE

UNCLAS RIYADH 001629

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP AND OES/SAT
NASA FOR MICHAEL O'BRIEN AND PATRICK BESHA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TSPL TSPA EIND SENV SA
SUBJECT: NASA ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR EXPANDS SPACE
COLLABORATION WITH SAUDI ARABIA


1. (SBU) Summary: NASA Assistant Administrator O'Brien's
December 8 - 10 visit to Riyadh reinvigorated collaboration
between NASA and KACST, Saudi Arabia's science ministry.
During the visit, KACST and NASA signed a joint statement
recognizing the Saudi Lunar and Near Earth Object Science
Center as an affiliate partner with the NASA Lunar Science
Institute at Ames Research Center, California. The warm,
positive atmosphere surrounding O'Brien's visit was an
indication of the Saudis' eagerness to expand its cooperation
with NASA. Tours of KACST's facilities highlighted the
Kingdom's commitment to its research programs, and
demonstrated Saudi capabilities as a key regional player in
NASA's outreach to non-traditional partners. NASA and KACST
agreed to explore collaboration in several areas, including
developing a statement of intent for potential signature
during NASA Administrator Bolden's tentative visit to Riyadh
for the twenty-fifth anniversary of Prince Sultan bin
Salman's participation in the Discovery mission in June 2010.
KACST's enthusiasm and demonstrated commitment bodes well
for future bilateral science and technology collaboration,
which was encouraged by President Obama in his Cairo speech.
End summary.


2. (SBU) NASA's Assistant Administrator for External
Relations Michael O'Brien visited Riyadh December 8 - 10 for
meetings with the King Abdulaziz City for Science and
Technology (KACST) and with former astronaut Prince Sultan
bin Salman Al-Saud, now the head of Saudi Arabia's Commission
for Tourism and Antiquities. Prince Sultan told O'Brien he
hoped NASA Administrator Charles Bolden would travel to
Riyadh for the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Discovery
mission in June 2010. Sultan is the first and only Saudi in
space, and is passionate about reuniting the crew from the
1985 Discovery mission in which he participated. Sultan also
expressed his interest in bringing the Discovery to Saudi
Arabia once it is retired from NASA's fleet. O'Brien
explained that U.S. institutions would first have the
opportunity to host the shuttle before international bidders
were considered. Asked about Saudi participation on the
international space station, O'Brien said the space station
was fully functional and handed over information for
potential researchers. Sultan shared several fond anecdotes
from his time in the United States, and said our bilateral
relationship "needs to detox" through reinvigorated
educational and scientific exchanges to rebuild the high
level of trust we once shared.


3. (SBU) Vice President for Research Institutes Prince Turki
Al-Saud personally hosted O'Brien in Riyadh after having met
during the December 3 - 4 Science and Technology Agreement
Space Working Group meeting in Washington, as well as during
the December 7 - 9 Global Space Technology Forum in Abu
Dhabi. On December 9, KACST and NASA signed a joint
statement recognizing the Saudi Lunar and Near Earth Object
Science Center as an affiliate partner with the NASA Lunar
Science Institute at Ames Research Center, California.
O'Brien also visited KACST's National Satellite Technology
Program, Solar Village, Laser Ranging station, and
Electronics, Communications, and Photonics research
facilities. KACST plans on creating up to 15 Technology
Implementation Centers (TICs) to commercialize scientific
discoveries and spur Saudi universities to expand their
research activities. Dr. Turki said KACST planned to expand
its facilities from four to 27 buildings, and its workforce
from 2,500 to 12,000, by 2014. Dr. Turki and several
scientists in the National Satellite Technology Program
expressed their desire for increased exchanges and
collaboration with NASA's Ames Research Center in California,
with which the Saudis have a historic relationship.


4. (SBU) NASA and KACST agreed to explore potential
cooperation in the following areas:

-- Draft a statement of intent outlining specific areas of
potential cooperation, which could be signed during the NASA
Administrator's tentative June 2010 visit.
-- Renew the expired Satellite Laser Ranging agreement.
-- Complete and sign an AERONET agreement between KACST and
NASA.
-- Develop a scholarship program similar to NASA's program
with the UAE.
-- Collaborate on carbon monitoring.
-- Conduct joint research on small satellites.
-- Conduct research on the International Space Station.

-- Conduct science collaboration with the NASA Lunar Science
Institute.


5. (SBU) Comment: The Saudis, and Dr. Turki in particular,
seem sincerely committed to expanding their space program and
clearly see NASA as a key partner in this expansion. Dr.
Turki is a Stanford University graduate who knows U.S.
science and technology infrastructure inside and out. The
amount of personal time spent with O'Brien, as well as the
focus on tangible results, was a strong indicator that KACST
is serious about partnering with the United States, and NASA
in particular. The Embassy strongly endorses this
partnership as a tangible demonstration of our implementation
of the President's Cairo speech agenda.


6. (U) NASA Assistant Administrator O'Brien cleared on this
cable.
ZIADEH