JAKARTA - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has selected the first Arab woman to be trained as an astronaut. This is done in line with the rapid expansion into the space sector to diversify its economy.
The UAE uses the space program to develop its scientific and technological capabilities and reduce its dependence on oil.
The announcement of the female astronaut was delivered directly by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai last weekend. The chosen figure is Nora Al Matrooshi.
"We announced today two new Emirati astronauts, among them the first Arab (female) astronauts Nora Al Matrooshi and Mohammed Al Mulla," Sheikh Mohammed wrote on his Twitter account, as reported by The National News Monday, April 12.
"They have been selected from more than 4,000 applicants and their training will soon begin with nasa's astronaut program. We congratulate the country. We rely on them to lift the UAE's name in the sky," he continued.
Nora Al Matrooshi and Mohammed Al Mulla will join the first two astronauts for training at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, USA, majors Major Al Mansouri and Al Neyadi, who had previously been trained by Russia for a year.
The two spent a year training in Star City, in western Russia, for the first space missions, including one week for Major Al Mansouri on the International Space Station (ISS).
The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC) and NASA have signed an agreement to train four Emirati astronauts. Majors Al Mansouri and Al Neyadi have completed six months of training under NASA's Astronaut Candidate Training Program.
The two new astronauts will begin their training after a new class begins at the end of the year. Once completed, all four will be eligible for NASA-led space missions.
Selection processنعلن بحمدالله اليوم عن اثنين من رواد الفضاء الإماراتيين الجدد .. بينهم أول رائدة فضاء عربية .. نورا المطروشي ومحمد الملا ... تم اختيارهم من بين أكثر من ٤٠٠٠ متقدم .. وسيبدأ تدريبهم قريباً ضمن برنامج ناسا لرواد الفضاء.. نبارك للوطن بهم .. ونعول عليهم لرفع اسم الامارات في السماء. pic.twitter.com/5frAJQePO5
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) 10 April 2021
Nora Al Matrooshi and Mohammed Al Mulla were among 4,305 applicants selected based on age and educational background from across the United Arab Emirates. A total of 2,099 candidates then passed IQ, personality and technical assessments.
Of these, only 122 made it to the interview stage. Next, only 61 candidates took pre- and follow-up medical examinations. Then, fourteen passed the final round of interviews and evaluations, which were followed by the uae's first two astronauts and two Nasa female astronauts. From there, four candidates passed the fitness, communication and teamwork tests, before it was announced that two names were chosen.
MBRSC Astronaut Program chief Salem Al Marri said the space center's goal was to choose the best of all.
"The team at MBRSC has worked tirelessly after receiving applications, to evaluate them according to certain criteria and standards. Then conduct successive evaluations to ensure the selection of the best candidates, until we reach this point to announce new astronauts," he said.
Separately, MBRSC Director General Yousuf Al Shaibani explained that the selection of the two new astronauts will help the nation continue to write new scientific history for the Arab region in the field of space exploration.
"With the first wave of the UAE Astronaut Program, we were able to capture the world's attention, by flying the UAE flag on the International Space Station," he said.
"We still remember the pride that engulfed the country, when the first Emirati astronauts took off into space. Today, we are moving towards achieving another important moment by announcing the second wave and will continue our plan to improve the capabilities of emirati youth in the space sector," he concluded.
Congratulations to Nora AlMatrooshi and Mohammed AlMulla for joining the team of the UAE Astronaut Programme. We await you in preparation for new missions and exchange our expertise. I wish that we succeed together in raising the name of our nation ever higher. pic.twitter.com/AkMz8dDNd4
— Hazzaa AlMansoori (@astro_hazzaa) April 10, 2021
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