Emirates and NASA seal agreement to train Emirati astronauts for space missions
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has signed an agreement with NASA, the United States' space agency, to train astronauts from the Arab country with the aim of completing missions related to the International Space Station (ISS), as announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai.
These space operations would mainly involve spacewalks and long-haul station missions, as Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum confirmed on the social network Twitter. "We are pleased to announce the signing of an agreement with @NASA to train UAE astronauts for potential missions to the International Space Station, including space walks & long duration station missions. The program will train our youth and astronauts for future missions," explained the Vice President and Prime Minister of the Emirates.
UAE astronauts Hazzaa AlMansoori and Sultan AlNeyadi have already begun their training at Nasa's Johnson Space Center in Houston starting Monday, Salem AlMarri, head of the UAE Astronaut Programme, at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), said during a media briefing. AlMansoori and AlNeyadi had earlier trained at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Moscow, in September 2018 as part of their preparation for their launch to the ISS. The Johnson Space Center is one of the world's largest centres for spaceflight training, research and mission control. A pioneer in human space exploration for more than half a century, it has been at the forefront of US manned spaceflight programmes.
Two more Emirati astronauts will also undergo training at Nasa as per the agreement, AlMarri said. Two astronauts to be selected from the second batch of the UAE Astronaut Programme will join the 2021 Nasa Astronaut Candidate Class, in which they will receive the training that US space agency's astronauts undergo. The training programme will prepare Emirati astronauts physically and psychologically for future space missions.
"Training will be for around two-and-a-half years and it will prepare them for long-duration missions to ISS," said AlMarri. The official said that after the training, the candidate will graduate as "astronauts with user and operative level experience with ISS" so that they can not only be part of a mission but also operate the space station.
The programme created as part of the new partnership includes the same modules and components featured in the training of Nasa astronauts. Under the programme, the astronauts will be trained to manage various missions on the International Space Station, including simulated spacewalks and long-duration stay, along with training in major systems, robotics, extravehicular activity, T-38 jet courses, water and land survival, Russian language skills and theoretical training.
The UAE's participation in the Nasa training programme reflects the global reputation of the country's space sector and its leadership among spacefaring nations. This has already been demonstrated by the Mars mission launched a few weeks ago, in which the Emirates is cooperating with Japan.
MBRSC Chairman Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori said the strategic partnership with Nasa, a space pioneer for more than 60 years, supports the strategy of the UAE's National Space Programme. "Emirati astronauts will benefit from Nasa's extensive infrastructure, experience and knowledge in spaceflight development and operations."
For his part, Nasa's Deputy Administrator James Morhard added: "The US and UAE enjoy a strong relationship here on Earth, and we are excited to extend that relationship into the final frontier." "This agreement to train Emirati astronauts will pave the way for even closer relations between our two nations creating new opportunities for the UAE to become involved in the International Space Station, Artemis, and other Nasa activities," he added to the Khaleej Times.
