‘WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE FIRST EMIRATI FEMALE ASTRONAUT’

A third of the total applications received for the next edition of the astronauts programme came from Emirati woman, said Salem AlMarri, assistant director-general for science and technology sector at the MBRSC.

“Women play a critical role in every sector in the UAE, including the space industry. For instance, the Emirates Mars Mission team has 34 per cent women.

“Emirati women have played a vital role in the country’s progress, and it is no surprise that so many women have come forward to represent the country in outer space. We have some outstanding female candidates and we’d like to see one of them being selected as the first Emirati female astronaut. Our goal, as always, is to find the most suitable candidate to join the UAE astronaut corps.”