DUBAI 2 March 2018: The MBR Space Centre has extended the registration deadline for the UAE Astronaut Programme till Mar 31, allowing more Emiratis to avail the opportunity and providing the centre with time to assess the large of number applications received.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), has extended an invite to all key UAE government institutions urging them to nominate suitable employees to join the mission and the team of talented scientists at the International Space Station before registration for the programme closes.
The move follows the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to explore the best national talent and select four Emirati candidates, who will band together to form the UAE Astronauts Team as part of the UAE’s growing space exploration programme and its overall strategy to integrate advanced sciences into its national growth matrix.
Commenting on the move, Yousuf Hamad Al Shaibani, MBRSC Director-General, said, “We are delighted with the volume of entries we have received so far for the UAE Astronaut Programme since its announcement last month. Over 3,000 candidates have successfully completed the online registration, 60 per cent of who are STEM qualified and over 20 percent are pilots.
“A majority of the applicants are between the ages of 24 and 36 with our youngest applicant being only 17 years old while our oldest is 67 years old. We were also very happy to note that 25 percent of the applications we received were from female candidates. These figures are a positive reflection of the drive and passion of our nationals and their aspirations to contribute to the future of our ambitious nation.”
The shortlisted candidates will be chosen to undertake theoretical and practical tests, training and qualification courses, and aptitude tests, over several months, in accordance with the international standards required for different missions.
They will also travel to various Astronaut Training Centres around the world providing state-of-the-art simulation systems.