![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FMBBPAZUSJBZ7M6EPTDLMW3MO4.jpg?smart=true&auth=c9f81519ae42a24432dd56902bc93da935411b338611cabe2de4caf47b4a7607&width=400&height=225)
Personnel at a mission control station outside the habitat monitors the Hera crew members around the clock
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2VL74UNBAVE6LPCTNURHUWP5K4.jpg?smart=true&auth=aa47ca3de6242f996e4c0399a5d7d8afe0e11fd5cc581f682c1e899fc0453196&width=400&height=225)
Shareef Al Romaithi, founder of Madari Space, is preparing to undertake a six-week simulation mission to further efforts to explore Mars. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PD5AQ4BZ2NDNLGRUZ2KB2AHIWI.jpg?smart=true&auth=6984e74914696532fb321e48a5ef04e4df163b14a7a202d558c4dde781c614fc&width=400&height=225)
Emirati pilot Shareef Al Romaithi will participate in Nasa’s Human Exploration Research Analogue (Hera) programme from May 10 to June 24, 2024, in Houston, Texas. All photos: Nasa
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FDZKUG63VZHW7HT2FJXTZSLG54.jpg?smart=true&auth=129e5b8a370e010a536b82ca7a8d53166d27a388a37e3337e17f9c19de6a6170&width=400&height=225)
Hera is a three-storey habitat that offers isolation, confinement and remote conditions that mimic those experienced during space exploration missions
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YAIXU23TIRAMRAK4ZITZFRI4YA.jpg?smart=true&auth=0dd63d23aa55e0186ba010998cc3ea46967250df32349170c366224794fd6e2d&width=400&height=225)
There have been six campaigns under the programme so far, each of which included four to five missions, and ranged in duration from one to 45 days
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HFKQECGRFRC27J2XQPXG2LKA2U.jpg?smart=true&auth=6b3c60375e47851278bf0642c8e61c27f864178f02410bfe3efa60017107767a&width=400&height=225)
Analogue missions are designed to mimic long-duration space missions and usually involve confining a small team to a habitat, where they carry out 'space missions'
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FMBBPAZUSJBZ7M6EPTDLMW3MO4.jpg?smart=true&auth=c9f81519ae42a24432dd56902bc93da935411b338611cabe2de4caf47b4a7607&width=400&height=225)
Personnel at a mission control station outside the habitat monitors the Hera crew members around the clock
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2VL74UNBAVE6LPCTNURHUWP5K4.jpg?smart=true&auth=aa47ca3de6242f996e4c0399a5d7d8afe0e11fd5cc581f682c1e899fc0453196&width=400&height=225)
Shareef Al Romaithi, founder of Madari Space, is preparing to undertake a six-week simulation mission to further efforts to explore Mars. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PD5AQ4BZ2NDNLGRUZ2KB2AHIWI.jpg?smart=true&auth=6984e74914696532fb321e48a5ef04e4df163b14a7a202d558c4dde781c614fc&width=400&height=225)
Emirati pilot Shareef Al Romaithi will participate in Nasa’s Human Exploration Research Analogue (Hera) programme from May 10 to June 24, 2024, in Houston, Texas. All photos: Nasa
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FDZKUG63VZHW7HT2FJXTZSLG54.jpg?smart=true&auth=129e5b8a370e010a536b82ca7a8d53166d27a388a37e3337e17f9c19de6a6170&width=400&height=225)
Hera is a three-storey habitat that offers isolation, confinement and remote conditions that mimic those experienced during space exploration missions
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YAIXU23TIRAMRAK4ZITZFRI4YA.jpg?smart=true&auth=0dd63d23aa55e0186ba010998cc3ea46967250df32349170c366224794fd6e2d&width=400&height=225)
There have been six campaigns under the programme so far, each of which included four to five missions, and ranged in duration from one to 45 days
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HFKQECGRFRC27J2XQPXG2LKA2U.jpg?smart=true&auth=6b3c60375e47851278bf0642c8e61c27f864178f02410bfe3efa60017107767a&width=400&height=225)
Analogue missions are designed to mimic long-duration space missions and usually involve confining a small team to a habitat, where they carry out 'space missions'
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FMBBPAZUSJBZ7M6EPTDLMW3MO4.jpg?smart=true&auth=c9f81519ae42a24432dd56902bc93da935411b338611cabe2de4caf47b4a7607&width=400&height=225)
Personnel at a mission control station outside the habitat monitors the Hera crew members around the clock
Shareef Al Romaithi: the Emirati pilot helping Mars dreams take flight
He will live and work like an astronaut traveling to the planet in near-isolation for 45 days
![Sarwat Nasir](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F5a1721d1-b1fc-47a7-8c35-985395d5a5ae.png?smart=true&auth=59b598b8295381dbbb5492b5ef6a2ffa0d77e07c0a1086053fcdbee600f14b7f&width=70&height=70)
Sarwat Nasir
23 April, 2024
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