UAE starts hunt for Emirati astronauts

The UAE has made another out-of-this-world announcement. quite literally this time. The search is on for potential Emirati astronauts in the country who will be heading to the International Space Station (ISS) within the next five years.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, made the historic announcement on Wednesday and launched the UAE Astronaut Programme, in which four Emirati astronauts will be selected.
Sheikh Mohammed is inviting young Emiratis to register for the UAE Astronaut Programme through the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) at www.mbrsc.ae/astronauts.
Interested locals have to be over the age of 18 and submit an online application. The shortlisted ones will go through a series of medical, psychometric and interview tests and the final four will be chosen by the end of 2018.
The finalists of the programme will go through training in theory, science, specialty qualification for several months.
The four will join the ISS on the first UAE space mission ever, to share knowledge and experience with other global astronauts. The astronauts will enhance the UAE's space sector achievements by undertaking scientific experiments within an integrated project, aimed at exploring biology and ways of adapting living organisms in non-terrestrial environments.
The UAE Astronaut Programme is one of many space exploration projects that have been launched in the country; however, this is the first of its kind where Emiratis will step into space.
"On this day, a new chapter in our history begins with the launch of the first UAE Astronaut Programme, dedicated to training and sending four Emirati astronauts into space. The people of the UAE will break barriers; there is no power strong enough to stand in the way of those who believe nothing is impossible." He continued, "Our ambitious goals are fuelled by dedicated people, who support us until, without hesitation or scepticism, we succeed," Sheikh Mohammed said.
"The most competitive applicants will be selected to be ambassadors for the UAE in space exploration. However, every single Emirati will contribute in his or her own way to the future of the UAE, whether it's on land or in the skies."
The programme is part of the UAE National Space Programme, which was launched last April by Sheikh Mohammed and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
The UAE National Space Programme also includes the establishment of the Mars Science City.
The Arab Space Exploration Programme is also part of UAE's space exploration projects. The Emirates Mars Mission is another project, in which an unmanned space probe called Hope will be launched in July 2020 to orbit Mars.
sarwat@khaleejtimes.com