![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QCJD7T5NB6ETX2Q7EU2PPRRB4Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=28a8e5e20692d57f6cf15f0ca7450a03f6883212100be7e714fbb1c7b0e554cd&width=400&height=225)
Terry Virts and Samantha Cristoforetti at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6YQSOXZUSCRGTZXC3CNJIFBWEU.jpg?smart=true&auth=49afe6dece10b9dc3194b4f48b2bd409f6f10ba06395685d5cea8689a3ea6c5e&width=400&height=225)
Emirati astronauts Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi have arrived in Houston to embark on an intensive Nasa training programme
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O55URSSR474A4HLKQB5LOW6G74.jpg?smart=true&auth=61757d5ed46679b838c1e541fd7c41d3e9196f93c47d435e3124d0d68b5ad7fa&width=400&height=225)
The agreement will set the stage for future UAE space missions
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HJ3RUXTDRTOBUKHBUH7UJT6R3Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=88845381be872bd7555b0d7881db24e1dafc80fb4e12dd4f57e6f124a7038e75&width=400&height=225)
Astronaut Steve Swanson goes under water at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AZXTVQVGX7R6BNE364SLFPDPOQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=04a9bbe040b85c0a7691a46af7139907f33e9eab466c5dcc2e9a5d9a9214bcb4&width=400&height=225)
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid has heralded the signing of a new space partnership between the Emirates and the United States
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EIFVG66S774UESV4HEVPX7SKN4.jpg?smart=true&auth=7c24b5290c65dd4a3c4b6e0ea5a525075150a8f5a2bd88a4595e5cf4d28480d5&width=400&height=225)
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai
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Salem Al Marri, head of the UAE's astronaut programme, said the agreement opens up new partnership opportunities between Nasa and the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. All pictures courtesy of Dubai Media Office
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WMVPLMBO5I5GRQBQWBJHI6PN6Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=3f40f9f40a78ab0f2fddeda27dcc002a2a2285b1bf37c5302ca4ed283157e345&width=400&height=225)
Yousuf Hamad Al Shaibani, director general of Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre
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Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, chairman of Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre
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Jim Morhard, deputy administrator at Nasa
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QCJD7T5NB6ETX2Q7EU2PPRRB4Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=28a8e5e20692d57f6cf15f0ca7450a03f6883212100be7e714fbb1c7b0e554cd&width=400&height=225)
Terry Virts and Samantha Cristoforetti at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6YQSOXZUSCRGTZXC3CNJIFBWEU.jpg?smart=true&auth=49afe6dece10b9dc3194b4f48b2bd409f6f10ba06395685d5cea8689a3ea6c5e&width=400&height=225)
Emirati astronauts Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi have arrived in Houston to embark on an intensive Nasa training programme
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O55URSSR474A4HLKQB5LOW6G74.jpg?smart=true&auth=61757d5ed46679b838c1e541fd7c41d3e9196f93c47d435e3124d0d68b5ad7fa&width=400&height=225)
The agreement will set the stage for future UAE space missions
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HJ3RUXTDRTOBUKHBUH7UJT6R3Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=88845381be872bd7555b0d7881db24e1dafc80fb4e12dd4f57e6f124a7038e75&width=400&height=225)
Astronaut Steve Swanson goes under water at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AZXTVQVGX7R6BNE364SLFPDPOQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=04a9bbe040b85c0a7691a46af7139907f33e9eab466c5dcc2e9a5d9a9214bcb4&width=400&height=225)
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid has heralded the signing of a new space partnership between the Emirates and the United States
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EIFVG66S774UESV4HEVPX7SKN4.jpg?smart=true&auth=7c24b5290c65dd4a3c4b6e0ea5a525075150a8f5a2bd88a4595e5cf4d28480d5&width=400&height=225)
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RESUS7DES7YKW23FN6HI3WE2AM.jpg?smart=true&auth=c16fa8b93bf55fa5b0c74bf03ab9a698c04c6b1424e371a40264b9fcb614fc3d&width=400&height=225)
Salem Al Marri, head of the UAE's astronaut programme, said the agreement opens up new partnership opportunities between Nasa and the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. All pictures courtesy of Dubai Media Office
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WMVPLMBO5I5GRQBQWBJHI6PN6Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=3f40f9f40a78ab0f2fddeda27dcc002a2a2285b1bf37c5302ca4ed283157e345&width=400&height=225)
Yousuf Hamad Al Shaibani, director general of Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TMFPUW7IPAWYKQERHEGIR4IHFE.jpg?smart=true&auth=17893815b088a03fa24034e3b33d76330584104b4119351c46d9d353051310f5&width=400&height=225)
Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, chairman of Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XIJVLIQOJWNLYHBTHLOTT7QKQY.jpg?smart=true&auth=67efffa067b3fab5b49fc2522e6df74a6fb76e04f9037068ad04a8af8e4a7ffb&width=400&height=225)
Jim Morhard, deputy administrator at Nasa
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QCJD7T5NB6ETX2Q7EU2PPRRB4Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=28a8e5e20692d57f6cf15f0ca7450a03f6883212100be7e714fbb1c7b0e554cd&width=400&height=225)
Terry Virts and Samantha Cristoforetti at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab
Spacewalks and long-haul missions: Emirati astronauts to be trained by Nasa
Hazza Al Mansouri, the UAE's first man in space, has arrived in Houston to begin training
![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
21 September, 2020
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