1,400 women among 4,300 astronaut hopefuls

The new applicants come from different sectors; have diverse educational backgrounds - and 1,400 are women. Some 130 hold doctorates.

By Nandini Sircar

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Published: Sun 10 May 2020, 8:00 PM

Last updated: Mon 11 May 2020, 8:50 AM

A total of 4,300 Emiratis have applied to become the next astronauts of the UAE - and about one-third of them are women, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre announced on Sunday.
Owing to the historic success of Hazzaa AlMansoori's space mission last year, the second round of the UAE Astronaut Programme saw a bigger batch of candidates, the MBRSC said.
The new applicants come from different sectors; have diverse educational backgrounds - and 1,400 are women. Some 130 hold doctorates.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Salem Al Maari, head of the UAE Astronaut Programme at the MBRSC, said he would personally want to see a few women being selected.
"Women bring something very different to the table and to the human space life and having a well-rounded programme definitely requires that we have diversity in gender," he said.
But Al Maari emphasised that the criteria are not based on gender. "It's based on quality - and the best and brightest."
In terms of academic background, the MBRSC noted that there are more candidates with higher educational achievements this time.
"In the first stage, we had a lot of curious people who wanted to try and see. Now in the second stage we see a lot of people who have seen the first phase and would want to seriously contribute to the mission. So we have a lot more highly educated people this time," Al Maari said.
However, achievements and capabilities aside, candidates will also have to prove that they are "fit" for space.
"It's also about them being fit medically and psychologically. Those things are sometimes not in our hands," Al Maari said.
Bigger expectations this time
After the AlMansoori's remarkable mission to the International Space Station, Al Maari affirmed that expectations are bigger this time.

"The two candidates Hazzaa and Sultan Al Neyadi are the best people that I've met. Highly educated and highly dedicated people who've contributed to their country before they joined us, and they are continuing contributing after they joined.
"We are looking for people who can always bring in something different and something better to the table and build onto the team."
Al Maari noted that they looking for a well-rounded person "with many different skills".
They have also widened the age limit for this round to be able to get more younger candidates involved, he added.
"With the first group, we wanted a lot of experienced people, someone who could bring to table something straightway. With this group we know they have a longer course training plan and we also have Hazza and Sultan to support them," said the head of the programme.
"We are looking at people who are 25 going forward. I don't want to put an age limit, we are looking at eligible and best candidates for selection."
nandini@khaleejtimes.com 
 

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