More vertiports will be set up in strategic locations across Abu Dhabi, including major business hubs and tourism destinations
Emirati astronauts Sultan Al Neyadi and Nora Al Matrooshi got candid on how they once dreamt of going to space, even though the UAE was nowhere on the space map at that time.
Speaking at Expo 2020’s flagship Space Week, Al Neyadi also opened up about how he thought that his daughter would one day be the UAE’s first female astronaut.
Reiterating that despite harbouring a dream to be an astronaut, he had always felt it would be a far cry, as the UAE’s space sector had barely sowed its seeds in the cosmic world at that time.
As fate would have it, Al Neyadi, who holds a doctorate degree in Data Leakage Prevention Technology, was chosen as a backup space-flight participant in the UAE’s first astronaut programme. And the rest, as they, is history.
“I never let go of my dream of being an astronaut. In 2017 I took my daughter to the first science event run by Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC) and that time I thought in 15 or 20 years my daughter could be the first female astronaut from the UAE," he said.
Only one month after that, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced the first open selection for all Emiratis for the first batch of the UAE astronaut corp. I was so elated and I told my daughter we’ll be going to space.”
Al Neyadi, along with Hazza Al Mansouri, recently completed their first year of training at the US space agency Nasa.
Meanwhile, Nora Al Matrooshi, the UAE’s first female astronaut has broken the glass ceiling in more ways than one in achieving her dream.
The 28-year old, who was also speaking at the Expo event, said: “It was my opportunity to achieve the dream that I wanted since I was a child.”
Talking about her journey and pursuing her ambition despite earlier rejections, Al Matrooshi, who has completed her mechanical engineering, emphasised how her relentless pursuit of her goal played a big part in her selection for the second batch of the UAE astronaut corp.
ALSO READ:
>> Expo 2020: My friends used to laugh at my space dreams, says Hazza Al Mansouri
Al Matrooshi said: “I was starstruck when I saw the two female astronauts Jessica Meir and Ann McClain and Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi at the final interview for the selection process. I couldn’t stop smiling throughout the interview.”
She said: “I really wanted to become like them. I never thought I would get to meet them that early.
“The powerful imagination of a child inspired me to be an astronaut. As I grew up that thought started building stronger within me. That time there was no astronaut programme, but children don’t look at boundaries. On December 6, 2019, the leadership announced that they were looking for a second batch of astronauts. After I saw the success of the first batch of astronauts, I got even more inspired to join.”
She added" “I did apply to the first batch, but unfortunately I couldn’t make it. But the second batch was my second chance to achieve the dream that I wanted to achieve as a child.”
More vertiports will be set up in strategic locations across Abu Dhabi, including major business hubs and tourism destinations
Kerala will decide the fate of 194 candidates as polling on all 20 parliamentary constituencies will be held in the second phase
Pecker is a key witness in the case against the former US president, who is accused of falsifying business records to cover up hush-money payment
The oil and gas conglomerate and Fifa, the world governing body, sign major sponsorship agreement
Toomaj Salehi risks being hanged after the conviction on the Shariah charge of "corruption on Earth" by a Revolutionary Court
Aid groups warn any invasion would add to already-catastrophic conditions for Gaza's 2.4 million people
The American they will face Australia and Serbia on July 15 and July 17 as part of their preparation for the Paris Olympic Games
The leaders emphasise that the deal to release the hostages would bring an immediate and prolonged ceasefire in Gaza