Emarati astronauts graduate in NASA training

Dubai: Emirati astronauts Nora AlMatrooshi and Mohammad AlMulla graduated from the 2021 NASA Astronaut Candidate class leading the UAE space exploration reach new heights. This milestone, celebrated at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, marks the culmination of two years of rigorous training, propelling them into the cadre of fully qualified astronauts.

The 2021 NASA Astronaut Candidate class, fondly known as 'The Flies,' featured ten NASA candidates alongside the UAE's AlMulla and AlMatrooshi. Nora AlMatrooshi makes history as the first female Arab astronaut. The graduation ceremony bestowed each candidate with an astronaut pin, symbolizing not just their readiness for space missions but also their pivotal roles in future explorations.

The ceremony at the Johnson Space Center witnessed the presence of astronaut HE. Dr. Sultan Saif AlNeyadi and H.E. Salem Humaid AlMarri, Director General of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC).

Salem Humaid AlMarri, Director General of MBRSC, expressed pride in the astronauts' comprehensive training, showcasing the UAE's strategic and multidimensional approach to space exploration.

“Nora and Mohammad's journey from rigorous preparatory training to completing the NASA programme demonstrates their readiness to take part in future missions, significantly contributing to our understanding of space. This achievement is a stepping stone towards our goal of sustainable space exploration, showcasing the UAE as a pioneering force in space science and technology”, said AlMarri.

Before embarking on the NASA Astronaut Candidate Class training, AlMatrooshi and AlMulla underwent extensive in-house training at MBRSC. The NASA training program further honed their skills, covering critical areas such as spacewalking at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab, robotics, International Space Station systems and piloting the T-38 training jet. The astronauts also engaged in advanced exercises like survival training and lessons on Earth's geology, vital for understanding planetary structures.

Nora and Mohammad, belonging to the second batch of the UAE Astronaut Programme, epitomize the vision set by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Launched in 2021, the programme saw a rigorous selection process from 4,305 applications. The graduation of Nora AlMatrooshi and Mohammad AlMulla marks a giant leap for the UAE in space exploration.