Research in zero gravity: UAE is looking for project ideas in space

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, receives the UAE flag that Hazza Al Mansouri took to the International Space Station, during a homecoming reception at the Presidential Airport. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi arrive at the Presidential Airport. Rashed Al Mansoori / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed welcomes Sultan Al Neyadi back to the UAE. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed welcomes Hazza Al Mansouri home. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Al Fursan perform a flyover the presidential flight that brought Hazza Al Mansouri, Sultan Al Neyadi and officials from Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre back to the UAE. Hamad Al Kaabi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan bin Zayed greets Hazza Al Mansouri at a homecoming reception in Abu Dhabi. Rashed Al Mansoori / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Traditional ayala dancers participate in a homecoming reception for the returning UAE astronauts. Rashed Al Mansoori / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Hazza Al Mansouri is greeted by schoolchildren at the airport. Hamad Al Mansoori for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed receives Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi during a home-coming reception at the Presidential Airport. Hamad Al Kaabi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed speaks with Sultan Al Neyadi and Hazza Al Mansouri during a homecoming reception at the Presidential Airport. Seen with Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Hazza Al Mansouri shows Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed a model of the Soyuz MS-15 rocket that launched him to the International Space Station. Hamad Al Kaabi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, look at a model of the Soyuz MS-15 rocket. Abdullah Al Junaibi

Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi each greet their fathers at the Presidential Airport. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, stands for a photograph with Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi. Hamad Al Mansoori for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikha Fatima bint Mohamed bin Hamad Al Nahyan gives Hazza Al Mansouri a note. Seen with Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed. Hamad Al Kaabi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed and Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, stand for a photo wish Hazza Al Mansouri, Sultan Al Neyadi, Salem Al Marri, head of the National Space Programme. Courtesy Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Twitter

The UAE is looking for smart space shuttle experiments and research ideas in a no-gravity environment.

Research institutes in the UAE have been invited to submit proposals in science and tech-based projects that can be carried out in space.

Astronauts on board the International Space Station carry out thousands of science experiments in space that help us understand life on Earth.

And, this time the UAE wants to take new homegrown ideas into space when it sends its next astronaut to orbit our planet.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre is looking for research ideas in the fields of human health or Earth and space science.

These will be conducted by astronauts on board the ISS.

The last date for submitting applications is April 9.

“This is an amazing opportunity for the scientific community to contribute to space research while gaining invaluable skills that will serve them well through the years,” said Yousuf Hamad Al Shaibani, the centre’s director general.

Earth and space science projects on the ISS will focus on testing technologies and materials that will assist in exploration missions.

Human health research projects will help in improving the wellbeing of astronauts in space.

Maj Hazza Al Mansouri, the UAE’s first astronaut, carried out 16 experiments during an eight-day stay on the ISS last year.

Many of the projects that Mr Al Mansouri was a part of focused on human health, including the effects of microgravity on the body.

He carried out physical, biological and chemical experiments.

One of them was related to osteology, which studied bone condition and body composition.

He also measured the effects on the endocrine system in space flight and weighed his body mass as part of the test.

Other experiments were brain diffusion tensor imaging, which measures the impact on the brain before and after the space flight, sensory adaptation, cardiovector, countermeasures and fluidics.

MBRSC will share the results of these experiments when they are ready.

Candidates can contact [e-mail] for the application process.