The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has selected two new interns for its burgeoning Astronaut Corps , including its first female candidate.
Nora AlMatrooshi, a 28-year-old mechanical engineer, and Mohammad AlMulla, a 32-year-old Dubai Police pilot, were announced on Saturday April 10 by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC) in Dubai. Their addition doubles the number of UAE astronauts, joining Hazza AlMansouri, who spent 8 days on the International Space Station in 2019, and Sultan AlNeyadi, his replacement.
“With the support of our wise leaders, young Emirati people continue to make great strides and push their ambition to new limits. Today, two new Emirati astronauts joined the UAE Astronaut Program. Our young talents continue to set an example to the world with their determination, “Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, wrote on Twitter .
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AlMatrooshi and AlMulla were chosen from an initial pool of 4,305 applicants who responded to the UAE Space Agency’s call for recruits in 2019. Both were among 14 finalists – nine men and five women – who qualified for the latest round of interviews conducted by Al Mansoori and AlNeyadi, as well as NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Jessica Meir.
AlMatrooshi and AlMulla will join NASA’s next class of astronauts to undergo basic training and prepare for missions to the space station and eventually the moon. In September 2020, NASA and the MBRSC signed an agreement to train United Arab Emirates astronauts at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. As part of the pact, Al Mansoori and AlNeyadi have already completed training in space station systems, robotics and space walking at Johnson.
“Congratulations to Nora AlMatrooshi and Mohammed AlMulla for joining the UAE Astronaut Program team,” Al Mansoori said on Twitter . “We are waiting for you to prepare new assignments and share our expertise. “
“I wish we succeed together in raising the name of our nation ever higher,” he said.
AlMatrooshi received her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of the United Arab Emirates at Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, before accepting a position at the National Petroleum Construction Company, where she was also vice-president of the Youth Council. AlMatrooshi ranked first in the UAE at the 2011 International Mathematical Olympiad and is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).
“Her passion for space started at a young age, as she enjoyed going to stargazing events,” the MBRSC said in a video statement.
“The nation gave me unforgettable moments today. I plan to work hard to script historic moments and achievements that will forever be remembered by our people, ”AlMatrooshi said on Twitter . “The preparations and the work are starting now. “
AlMulla obtained his BA in Law and Economics and his Executive Master of Public Administration from the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government in Dubai. A professional pilot and flight instructor licensed by the Australian Civil Aviation Authority, he was the youngest Dubai Police pilot at 19 and the youngest flight trainer at 28.
“His passion for space grew out of his love for aviation,” said the MSBRC. “He became more interested in the field after the announcement of the first batch of the UAE Astronaut Program. “
“What was a dream I was working to achieve has now become a responsibility that I will put all my efforts to fulfill,” AlMulla wrote on Twitter . “I am proud to join the UAE Astronaut Program and prepare for new missions. “
The UAE Astronaut Program was founded in 2017 to prepare an Emirati Astronaut Corps and to create “a culture of scientific endeavor [to motivate UAE] young people to pursue space science and technology.” “The Astronaut Corps is managed by the UAE Space Agency and is funded by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) ICT Fund, which promotes the country’s integration into the world stage.
