‘Gender was never a factor in choosing new astronauts’
Hazzaa Almansoori
I feel Emirati women are more confident of their abilities and limitless capabilities...women of this generation are more future-ready and are well prepared. They’re capable of doing anything.”
Today, it is not right to think that if you are a woman, you are not capable of performing space missions. This is what we are trying to establish in the UAE. Al Matrooshi was an ideal candidate.” Sultan Al Neyadi, Emirati astronaut
When Hazzaa Almansoori and Sultan Al Neyadi joined the committee to select the next members of their astronaut corps there was no line that divided men and women.
The UAE had recently announced its next astronauts: Mohammed Al Mulla, a helicopter pilot with a distinctive track record; and Nora Al Matrooshi, a mechanical engineer who is set to become the first Arab woman in space.
“Gender was never the criterion. Our leaders and this country believe in gender equality and giving equal opportunities to both male and female,” Almansoori, the first Emirati who went to space, told Khaleej Times in an exclusive virtual chat right from the Nasa’s Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas, US. He and astronaut Al Neyadi are currently training with Nasa for bigger, grander space missions.
“What we were looking for in the second batch was variety…diversification of skill sets and backgrounds and to have the best of the best,” said Almansoori, recalling the final evaluations which he
and Al Neyadi were part of.
The two candidates were selected from the final four after undergoing rigorous tests for physical fitness, communication skills, and teamwork. “The selection of a female astronaut in the UAE is a strong message: The country will give you an opportunity and will support you in your endeavours if you are a deserving candidate. I told Al Matrooshi that she has a huge responsibility because she will be the first female astronaut from the Arab world. She will be an inspiration to all, not only to people of this region, but even outside. So, we will support her in every way possible,” Almansoori said.
Despite record-breaking feats by women, they still remain an overwhelming minority among important ranks in the global aerospace industry. This, however, is bound to change sooner than the world thinks, with the emerging shift in perceptions. “Now, we see women progressing at a fast pace in space missions,” Al Neyadi said, sharing how he admired astronaut Christina Koch, who spent an entire year in space with no problem or issues.
“Today, it is not right to think that if you are a woman, you cannot proceed or perform well in this field or are not capable of space missions. This is what we are trying to establish in the UAE.”
Al Matrooshi, he said, aced all medical and mental tests and could handle pressure. “I’m looking forward to seeing her in space on the first Arab female mission and we will be by her side, sharing our expertise,” said Al Neyadi.
Speaking about the selection of the first batch in the UAE Astronaut Programme, Al Neyadi explained: “The passion and the enthusiasm are the same in both the batches. But what was different is that when we were selected, we didn’t have the chance to speak to an astronaut from the UAE as we had none. We had the chance to talk to real astronauts only when we went for our training outside.”
This time, Al Matrooshi and Al Mulla have two bright Emirati astronauts to reach out to whenever they have questions about space. “Al Mulla is a skillful helicopter pilot and Al Matrooshi is a bright mechanical engineer. We’re ready to receive them. I called them on Saturday and congratulated them and they were really excited. I told them that we are a team now…the national team of astronauts who will be working collaboratively,” Al Neyadi said.