All four Emirati astronauts are training at a Nasa centre in Houston, but only one will be selected to go on the UAE’s latest mission to space.
This time it is a six-month mission to the International Space Station, the first long-duration space stint by an Arab country. It is also the first time an Arab astronaut will be part of a Nasa-SpaceX mission.
In 2019, the UAE made history when it sent the first Arab astronaut to the orbiting laboratory for an eight-day stay.
It had purchased a seat on the Russian Soyuz rocket, which was the only ride for astronauts after the US disbanded its Space Shuttle programme in 2011.
But now, SpaceX is also capable of sending astronauts to the space station with its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule.
Private companies such as Axiom Space, a space travel and infrastructure company in Houston, is helping to organise trips for clients.
Luckily for the UAE, Axiom was owed a spot on a Nasa-SpaceX mission by the US space agency, which the country was able to secure for an Emirati astronaut. But, who are the UAE’s four astronauts and which one is likely to go on this new, momentous mission?
The National takes a closer look.
Hazza Al Mansouri
He made headlines around the world in 2019, when a Soyuz rocket launched him into space from Kazakhstan’s Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Maj Al Mansouri, 38, a former fighter jet pilot from Abu Dhabi, became the first Emirati astronaut in space and the first Arab on the ISS.
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Hazza Al Mansouri, shortly after arriving back on Earth. Photo: MBRSC -
Hazza Al Mansouri wears an Emirati kandura on board the International Space Station. Photo: Dubai Media Office -
Emirati astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri takes live Q&A from space and gives a tour of ISS. Screengrab via Youtube Live -
Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid talks with Emirati astronaut, Hazza Al Mansouri, during a live satellite feed from the International Space Station. Photo: Dubai Media Office -
Hazza Al Mansouri answers questions from Emirati students studying in Japan during a live session on Monday. Photo: Jaxa -
One of the pictures Hazza Al Mansouri took while onboard the International Space Station. Photo: Hazza Al Mansouri -
Hazza Al Mansouri having breakfast aboard the International Space Station. The UAE's first astronaut received the Nasa Distinguished Public Service Medal in recognition of his service. Photo: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre -
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, welcomes Hazza Al Mansouri to Abu Dhabi. Wam -
Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court, presents a certificate to Astronaut Major Hazza Al Mansouri at Khalifa University Graduation Ceremony at Emirates Palace in 2019. Hamad Al Kaabi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
UAE astronauts Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi tell of their experiences on the UAE space mission during a press conference in Dubai on Tuesday. Pawan Singh / The National -
Maj Hazza Al Mansouri with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office -
UAE's first astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri inside the Kibo lab on the International Space Station. Courtesy: Jaxa -
Hazza Al Mansouri was the first person from the United Arab Emirates to go into space. National Geographic -
Hazza Al Mansouri (left) and Sultan Al Neyadi carried the hopes of a nation as they prepared to venture into space. Courtesy: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre -
Hazza Al Mansouri arrives at the Presidential Terminal at Abu Dhabi International Airport on Saturday. Wam -
Hazza Al Mansouri is tended to by ground crews. Nasa / Youtube screengrab -
Hazza Al Mansouri posted the image of the Soyuz to his Twitter page.
The father-of-four spent eight days on the station, carrying out 16 science experiments and an educational programme for UAE pupils.
He trained for one year in Russia’s Star City, and has been training for long-duration missions at the Nasa Johnson Space Centre in Houston since September 2020.
The latest training includes learning how to perform spacewalks, the systems of the ISS, and learning how to operate the station’s robotic arm Canadarm2.
Sultan Al Neyadi
Dr Al Neyadi, 40, was selected to be part of the UAE’s astronaut corps alongside Maj Al Mansouri.
He was the back-up astronaut for the country’s first space mission and trained in Russia for one year with his colleague.
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Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi has completed Nasa's intense T-38 Talon supersonic jet training. All photos courtesy of Mr Al Neyadi Twitter -
The T-38 jets have been used by Nasa to train astronauts since the 1960s. -
Mr Al Neyadi and his American colleague on the way to train on a T-38 jet. -
Mr Al Neyadi on a T-38 jet, which travels faster than the speed of sound and prepares astronauts for spaceflight. -
Flying the supersonic jet involves traveling at speeds of Mach 1.6 and experiencing more than seven G-forces, or seven times the gravity, because of the speed – enough to make an average person unconscious. -
Mr Al Neyadi on board the T-38 Talon supersonic jet. -
Mr Al Neyadi prepares for a training session on a T-38 supersonic jet. -
Mr Al Neyadi and Nasa astronaut Chris Cassidy at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas.
Since 2020, the former IT professional has also been training in Houston.
Born in Al Ain, Dr Al Neyadi has an impressive career background, having served for the UAE military as a network security engineer.
He has a PhD in Information Technology from Australia’s Griffith University, and a Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communication Engineering from UK’s University of Brighton.
Nora Al Matrooshi
Ms Al Matrooshi is the first Arab woman to be selected as an astronaut.
The 29-year-old mechanical engineer joined the UAE’s astronaut corps last year, and started her training in Houston in January.
An Abu Dhabi native, she has been working for the capital’s National Petroleum Construction Company for the past few years.
She has a number of achievements to her name, including being the vice president of the Youth Council for three years. She is also a member of the American Association for Mechanical Engineers.
Mohammed Al Mulla
Mr Al Mulla, 34, is a pilot with more than 1,500 flight hours under his belt.
Born in Dubai, he served as a pilot at Dubai Police's Air Wing Centre and was also the head of the training department there.
He holds a commercial pilot’s licence, has a bachelor’s degree in law and economics, as well as an executive master’s in public administration from Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government.
His career achievements include being the youngest pilot in Dubai Police at 19 years of age.
He also received a bravery medal from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.
Sultan Al Neyadi likely going on next mission
In 2019, two days after Maj Al Mansouri launched to space, a senior UAE official said that Dr Al Neyadi would be part of the country’s next space mission.
Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Falasi, who was serving as chairman of the UAE Space Agency at the time, told local media: “We intend to further develop our space programme and we will be sending Sultan Al Neyadi next to the ISS in the near future.”
Maj Al Mansouri could be the back-up astronaut for this latest mission, as Ms Al Matrooshi and Mr Al Mulla have only recently started their training and may not qualify for a long-term science mission on the station.
Also, there has never been an instance where a country’s first astronaut is sent on a mission back-to-back.
Russia’s first cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin, was sent on only one mission.
Alan Shepard, the first American astronaut, was sent on only two missions. His second was part of the Apollo programme ― and came 10 years after his first mission.
The UAE has plans to secure multiple spaceflights in the future to create a sustainable astronaut programme.
The country is also in discussions with Nasa about participating in the Artemis programme, which aims to build a human presence on the Moon.
And, with the ISS eventually being retired at the end of this decade, it is likely the UAE's newest astronaut would embark on missions to the Moon.
