The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is poised to mark a historic milestone as its first female astronaut, Nora Al Matrooshi, is set to graduate from NASA's astronaut training program in early March of 2024. Confirming the news, NASA revealed that Matrooshi, alongside her colleague Mohammed Al Mulla and 11 American astronaut candidates, will graduate as part of the esteemed NASA astronaut class of 2023.
Upon graduation, these candidates, including Matrooshi, will become eligible for future space missions, including potential journeys to the International Space Station (ISS) and participation in upcoming US-led space expeditions, such as those planned under NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon.
The rigorous training program, initiated in 2021 at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas, encompassed a diverse range of courses. These included land survival, flight training, spacesuit and spacewalks, and geology field training, preparing the candidates for the challenges of space exploration.
For Matrooshi, the journey to becoming an astronaut began with a childhood dream sparked by a kindergarten project. Recalling the pivotal moment, she expressed her passion for space exploration, emphasizing that her dream persisted even as she pursued a career in the oil and gas industry. Matrooshi, a 30-year-old mechanical engineer, articulated her excitement, describing the opportunity as "life-changing."
The upcoming graduation ceremony, to be held at the Johnson Space Centre, will mark a significant achievement for Matrooshi, who will join the ranks of accomplished astronauts worldwide. The ceremony will not only signify the completion of intensive training but also highlight the continued collaboration between the UAE and the United States in space exploration.
The NASA 2023 astronaut class patch, featuring both the US and UAE flags, symbolizes the shared aspirations of the two nations in space exploration. Shaped like a fly, the patch depicts an astronaut reaching for the Moon, with Mars in the background, aligning with NASA's goals of establishing a human presence on the Moon and eventually venturing to Mars under the Artemis program.
The UAE has been making strides in space exploration, with its first two astronauts, Sultan Al Neyadi and Hazza Al Mansouri, completing the NASA training program in 2022. Additionally, the UAE has secured a spot for one of its astronauts on the Lunar Gateway, with plans to contribute an airlock to the Moon-orbiting station.
As the UAE continues to solidify its presence in the realm of space exploration, Matrooshi's graduation from NASA's training program marks a significant chapter in the nation's journey toward achieving new heights in space exploration and fostering gender diversity in the field of astronautics.