The first Emirai astronauts Hazzaa Al Mansoori and Sultan Al Neyadi will have a crucial role in choosing the next astronaut to be sent by UAE in its next space mission.
An official told the Khaleej Times that their experience and extensive training are vital in selecting the best person fit for UAE’s next space mission.
“That experience will be very important for us to select the next astronaut. We are expecting quite a lot of people to apply, especially after the first historic mission and seeing Hazzaa in space,” UAE Astronaut Programme Head at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre.(MBRSC), Salem Al Marri said.
“Now that we have an active astronaut corps of two people, the objective is to add more and get them trained. It’ll be very similar to the previous selection… We are looking at selecting some of the best and capable people that can support our objective. We are very lucky that we selected Hazzaa and Sultan and they have very different skill sets, but at the same time, we want to add different levels of skills,” he added.
There are no details yet regarding the UAE’s next space mission.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai announced that the search for the next astronaut for the country’s second space mission is on.
“We are looking for a new Emirati astronaut for the second Emirati mission to space. For those who see ambition, energy and determination in our sons and daughters, sign up with Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), mbrsc.ae/astronauts. The mission continues and our journey towards space is still at its beginning,” Sheikh Mohammed said on his Twitter account.
نبحث عن رائد فضاء إماراتي جديد للمهمة الاماراتية الثانية في الفضاء .. لمن يرى في نفسه الطموح والطاقة والعزيمة من أبناءنا وبناتنا التسجيل في مركز محمد بن راشد للفضاء https://t.co/h6ADrtR0Hs
المهمة مستمرة .. ومسيرتنا نحو الفضاء ما زالت في بدايتها .. pic.twitter.com/NYzv9K49dW— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) December 6, 2019
