ARAB WORLD’S FIRST FEMALE ASTRONAUT FULFILS DREAM
▶ Nora Al Matrooshi and Mohammed Al Mulla speak about what it means to be selected for the UAE’s space programme
The Arab world’s first female astronaut said being selected for the UAE’s space programme was the realisation of a lifelong dream.
Nora Al Matrooshi, 28, and Mohammed Al Mulla, 33, spoke in Dubai yesterday about being chosen as the newest members of the country’s growing space corps.
“I first started dreaming of becoming an astronaut when my teacher in kindergarten asked us to build a tent and pretend it was a spacecraft that was taking us to the Moon,” Ms Al Matrooshi said.
“Since then, I’ve become extremely passionate about becoming an astronaut.
“I’ve been working in the oil and gas field for several years, but my dream about becoming an astronaut never went away.
“This is a life-changing opportunity. The dream I’ve had since I was a child has come true. Now, I’ve started dreaming bigger.”
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, announced the pair’s selection in April, and said they would “raise the name of the UAE in the sky”.
They were chosen from 4,305 Emiratis who applied, including 1,400 women.
Ms Al Matrooshi and Mr Al Mulla are now colleagues of Maj Hazza Al Mansouri, the first Emirati in space, and Dr Sultan Al Neyadi.
Space agencies are making progress in gender equality. The sector has been dominated by men since the early days of space exploration.
As of 2020, of the more than 550 astronauts who had gone to space, only 65 were women.
Mr Al Mulla is the youngest pilot at Dubai Police and has been flying helicopters at the force for many years.
He is looking forward to being part of the UAE’s space team.
“Being chosen is a huge responsibility,” he said.
“Nora and I will, together, make sure we represent our country as best as possible and work closely with the first batch of our astronauts to make sure we are a strong team.”
Both astronauts must undergo extensive training before they will be ready to make history alongside Maj Al Mansouri, who spent eight days aboard the International Space Station in September 2019.
Salem Al Marri, head of the UAE Astronaut Programme, said Ms Al Matrooshi must first complete her 30-month training and will then be considered for space missions.
Dr Al Neyadi and Maj Al Mansouri are prime contenders for any flights in the near future.
“She could fly within this decade,” Mr Al Marri told The National.
“Once she completes her training, and more importantly passes her training, she will be eligible for a flight.
“If we get an earlier flight, which would be in the coming years, we would select from the candidates we have available, which would be Hazza and Sultan.
“If that flight is later, then we’ll have four candidates.”
One wants to inspire his sons, who look up to their father as a hero. The other is motivating schoolgirls across the Arab world to study science and maths.
The UAE’s two new astronauts, Mohammed Al Mulla and Nora Al Matrooshi, told The National about their hopes and dreams as they begin their space journey.
Ms Al Matrooshi, 28, a mechanical engineer, is the Arab world’s first woman astronaut. She says she is adventurous and looks forward to the intense training that awaits her at Nasa’s Johnson Space Centre, including spending hours underwater learning how to spacewalk and flying supersonic jets.
Mr Al Mulla, 33, has experienced major emergencies and incidents during his 15-year career as a helicopter pilot for Dubai Police, and feels he will be “very ready” for space missions once he completes the 30-month training programme at Nasa.
He hopes to inspire his two sons, aged 1 and 4, and said he is pushing himself to succeed for his family.
Nora Al Matrooshi What does the “first Arab woman astronaut” title mean to you?
Q AI think it proves that the Arab woman has the capabilities and that they are able to represent the Arab world in different sectors and fields. I think that by being selected as the first Arab female astronaut I will lead the way for other girls who are interested in the space field and will inspire them.
How do you think your background as a mechanical engineer will help you?
As an engineer, you need to be able to analyse a lot of information in a short period and, I believe, that skill is essential for being an astronaut. The rest of the UAE astronauts are in different fields, and I think my expertise in engineering would be valuable.
What has your family’s reaction been like since you were selected?
I applied to the programme before telling my family. They did know I’ve been saying my entire life that I’m going to be an astronaut, so it wasn’t that big of a surprise for them. I hope that my parents are proud of what I’ve achieved so far. Hopefully, they’ll be even more proud of what I’ll be achieving in the future.
What is your family background? Are they also interested in space?
My mom has a PhD in curriculums and leadership. My father also has a PhD, in chemical and petroleum engineering. I’m the oldest in the family. My sister is currently in Canada. She is a medical doctor and she is training to become a surgeon.
What is the most important personal item you’ll take with you to space once you are assigned a mission?
If I did have the opportunity, I think, I want to take a book with me, a book or an e-reader. I love to read. I enjoy novels, fantasy and fiction novels, mostly.
What are your tips for success, especially for young females in the Arab and Islamic world who want to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering and maths?
If I can do it, then you can do it, too. If no one has done it yet, just go ahead and be the first. Always set high goals and ambitions for yourself. If you are shooting for the Moon and you don’t reach, you’d still fall on to the stars. No matter how high your goals or ambitions are, if you are not able to reach them, you will still be taking, at least, one small step in the direction of bettering yourself.
Your training is coming up – flying on supersonic jets and spending hours under water. That sounds scary. Do you feel ready for that?
I feel prepared and excited, because I like to think of myself as a very adventurous person. I love the fact that I’ll be put in situations I’m not used to. So, I’ll be pushed out of my comfort zone. I feel like that’s very exciting.
Mohammed Al Mulla What does it mean for you to be an astronaut, and what goals do you hope to accomplish?
I’m very proud to be selected in the second batch of the astronaut programme. It meant a lot that they chose me to represent my country in the space sector. The responsibilities are big – in the past two years, the achievements of this country have been huge. It’s my ambition to represent the UAE on future missions, hopefully, to be part of the first Arab country that goes to the Moon.
Do you think it is possible for a UAE astronaut to reach the Moon within the decade?
The growth of the UAE space sector has been very fast. We have big projects like the Rashid rover that will be sent to the Moon. I think, within a short time, the UAE will be a big part of discoveries on the Moon.
What has your family’s reaction been?
I’m very thankful for them. They support me from the beginning till the end, and they will keep supporting till the end. They are very proud of me and I’m proud to have them in my life. I’m pushing myself to the next level for them. They support me in every direction. My kids, my parents, my brothers and my sisters – all my family are supportive.