![](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
UAE to take part in Nasa’s human research programme
In partnership with Nasa, an Emirati will be placed in near-isolation to find out the impact on the human mind and body
![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
20 May, 2022
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