By 
February 26th, 2019
Credit: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre
The United Arab Emirates announced on Monday that one of two UAE astronauts will fly to the International Space Station later this year. That person will be the first Arab astronaut to travel to the orbiting outpost, said officials from the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre.
Emirati astronauts Sultan al-Neyadi and Hazza al-Mansoori remain in training, preparing for a September 25 sendoff aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket.
While one will make the trek the other astronaut will continue training for future missions.
Credit: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre
Selection process
“We are preparing the first Emirati and Arab astronaut to join scientists at the International Space Station. Our objective is to show the world that we are able to contribute to humanity through quality knowledge and scientific discoveries,” explains His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
The process of picking the two UAE astronauts emerged from 4,022 applications that were received with 95 shortlisted for medical assessment. An initial interview stage whittled that number down to 39, with 18 entering the final interview stage. Nine of those people were assessed by Russia’s Roscosmos, leading to the final selection of Sultan al-Neyadi and Hazza al-Mansoori.
Credit: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre
Hazza al-Mansoori, 35, has a Bachelor of Aviation Science from Khalifa Bin Zayed Air College. Al Mansoori has a 14 year experience in military aviation.
Sultan al-Neyadi, 37, holds a PhD in information technology and Master’s Degree in Information and Network Security from Griffith University in Australia.
Go to this Gulf News Report video of the press event at:
For more information on the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre and the UAE astronauts, go to:
Posted in Space News
