His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said: “I have received statistics of applicants for the Emirates Astronauts Program, as we will announce two Emirati astronauts soon, 1400 Emirati girls among the applicants out of a total of 4,300 applicants, and 130 Emiratis who have obtained Doctorate among applicants .. proud of desire .. proud of passion .. proud of the people of the homeland ».

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center announced the registration indicators for the second batch of the “Emirates for Aerospace” program, which showed an increasing demand in the number of UAE citizens wishing to join the program, whether men or women, where the number of applicants for the second batch reached 4305 applicants, With an increase of 7%, compared to the numbers that advanced within the first batch of the program, while registration for this batch was closed on the first of May.

In the context of efforts to achieve leadership in the space sector, the second batch aims to choose Emirati astronauts to participate in future manned scientific trips to space, to join the pioneers Hazaa Al Mansoori and Sultan Al Neyadi, in order to enhance the ambition of the Emirati mission to explore space, and to serve the strategy of "Markaz". Mohammed bin Rashid Space »based on achieving the vision of rational leadership for the space field, achieving the UAE in advanced positions in this sector and sustaining its national program.

Over the course of two years, the program’s work team focused on developing a national team of astronauts that fulfills the aspirations of the state in scientific exploration, and participating in manned exploration trips by preparing and training Emirati astronauts and sending them to space, where the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center adopts a comprehensive strategy, which contributes to the formation The features of the progressive approach of the space sector in the country through launching such projects. The Emirates Astronauts Program also carries great goals and aspirations as a strategic platform for space exploration at the country level, where new astronauts constitute an important addition to the state’s space exploration program And consolidating its position on the international level, through contributing to scientific research that will help mankind in answering many scientific questions and problems, as the center's role in documenting its links with specialized international entities is highlighted by focusing on establishing international alliances and extending bridges of joint cooperation between it and the leaders of organizations And global space agencies.

The percentage of female applicants to the second batch of the «Emirates for Aerospace» program is 33% of the total applicants for this batch. The average age of the applicants was 28 years, the youngest was 11, and the oldest was 60. The degrees have also shown a remarkable diversity in which the scientific competencies of the applicants are highlighted, as the number of applicants holding a PhD degree reached 130 Emiratis by 3% of the applicants, and those with a master's degree reached 16%, while the category of those with a bachelor's degree reached 48%, and the applicant data Various scientific backgrounds, including engineering, medicine, science and business administration, at 25%, 2%, 10% and 11%, respectively.

At the level of universities, local universities inside the UAE accounted for the largest share of applicants in the second installment, where the percentage of applicants reached 93%, and in the forefront are Khalifa University, Zayed University, and the United Arab Emirates University, while the percentage of applicants from international universities did not exceed 7% .

In terms of employers, the semi-government sector has received a large percentage of 40% of the applicants, the government sector 30%, and the private sector 9%, while the applicants from the military sector accounted for 21%. The list showed the diverse professional backgrounds of the applicants, with four fronts topping: the UAE Armed Forces, Abu Dhabi Police, Etihad Airways, and Emirates Airlines.

The Director General of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center, Youssef Hamad Al-Shaibani, said: “Today the UAE begins a new journey in its path towards leadership in the space sector, its sciences and discoveries, and the goals and aspirations that the Emirates Space Astronauts Program is saving in contributing to this leadership, and elevating the Emirates high to ranks The developed countries in the space sector, like the rest of the areas in which the country has already reached advanced competitive levels on the global level. Our goals support the UAE's strategy and approach to serve the future of humanity, and confirm the positive contribution of the Emirates to making a better tomorrow for humanity. Our journey at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center has always received unrivaled support from the wise leadership, which prompts us all to make more efforts to contribute to enabling the state to achieve its goals in the space file. ”

Al-Shaibani continued: «Statistics of applicants for the second phase of the Emirates Space Program reflect the desire of the nation’s citizens to contribute to shaping the features of the future of the UAE space sector, and despite the difficult circumstances the world is going through today, this did not prevent the people of the Emirates from pursuing their ambitions in the space sector Rather, the demand for registration in the program has increased, and we are confident that the new batch of astronauts, along with Hazza and Sultan, will constitute a great impetus for our ambition, and will contribute to achieving the goals of the Mohammed bin Rashid Center through these programs that inspire new generations, and acquaint them with the benefits involved. A field Z, and the professional future in which this sector abounds for citizens ».

Al-Shaibani added that the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center is proceeding aggressively with the implementation of its ambitious program in the field of space exploration and ownership of its sciences, which requires it to provide the capabilities of the national space sector with more qualified astronauts to continue work in our mission, after the successful and honorable start that resulted in the first graduation Emirati astronaut.

The Assistant Director General of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center for Scientific and Technical Affairs and Director of the Emirates Astronauts Program, Salem Humaid Al-Marri, said in statements to «Emirates Today»: «We will focus, during the selection process, on achieving the most efficient conditions physically, healthly and psychologically, and great attention will be given to a number Among the desirable scientific majors, which are science, technology, engineering, and doctors, then other majors come after, including marketing, management, and others. ”He added:“ After selecting two new astronauts, they will undergo a training program, and astronauts Hazaa Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi will also undergo a training program, then it will fall Sister On one of these four to be leading the next space, which will be the new space mission ».

He stated that the number of registered in the second batch of astronauts includes 130 Emiratis with a doctorate, in addition to a large number of masters and scientific specialties and doctors, stressing the importance of this number, which indicates that the target groups are the groups that have already submitted for the new program’s journey, and this indicates A large number of citizens are interested in participating in "astronauts", including people who have made a lot in their working and study lives, and now they wish to participate in a larger mission, to provide the most to the state.

He noted that the final selection process will focus on applicants who will reach the final stages medically and healthily, and all requirements, tests and assessments. Al-Marri pointed out that the oldest citizen is a 60-year-old citizen, while the youngest is an 11-year-old student, which indicates that Hazza Al-Mansouri’s trip to the International Space Station has had a positive impact on different age groups in society, especially Emirati women, who I have competently applied to the program, of all ages of female applicants and their specialties. Among the applicants are doctors, teachers, and PhD holders, all of whom are competent and qualified.

On the duration of the next astronaut’s journey, Al-Marri said: “We are currently focusing on selecting new astronauts to join astronauts Hazza Al-Mansouri and Sultan Al-Neyadi, and on the training period for the four astronauts, which will determine the most appropriate person for them to be chosen for the next new space mission, and after years Training, we will limit the mission to space and its duration, and we will announce it in due course. ”

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, was directed in early December of last year to open the door for registration to the sons and daughters of the UAE, to apply to join the second batch of the «Emirates Astronauts Program», where he received The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center has approximately 1,000 requests in the first four hours of opening registration at that time.

Emirati astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri said: “I am proud of the results of the second batch that the Emirates Astronauts Program has enjoyed, and what it represents is a strong indication that will benefit the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center and the future of the space sector in the region.”

He continued: «The UAE’s achievement of graduating the first Emirati astronaut was not subject to conditions, but rather is the product of an ambitious plan of action, and steps calculated with high accuracy, driven by the passion for success, and supported by ambition. Those steps that the Center embodied through the program, and the passion it cultivated in our souls for the space sector, and I look forward to contributing to the completion of the state's march in the program, and sharing the results of the experiences and knowledge that we gained during our trip as astronauts. ”

The Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi said that the Emirates Astronauts program is a remake of the future and reality of the homeland of its participants. Today, the Emirates possesses Emirati astronauts, superior capabilities, an incubating environment for talent, and most importantly, our passion, which was the first step in achieving dreams. I believe that the Emirati astronauts project is making great progress through the results of the second batch, which reflects a desire to add a qualitative national that reflects the aspirations of the Emirates youth, and their resolve towards top positions.

It is noteworthy that the Emirates Astronauts Program is one of the projects of the National Space Program, and it is directly funded by the Communications and Information Technology Development Fund of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), which aims to support research and development efforts in the telecommunications sector in the country, and enrich, support and develop services Technology, and promote the country's integration into the global economy.

The indicators of enrollment in the second batch showed an increasing demand for enrolling in the program, whether men or women.

The program team worked on developing a national team of astronauts to fulfill the aspirations of the country in scientific exploration.

Terms

The UAE astronauts program requires that the applicant be an Emirati who is over 18 years old, holds at least a Bachelor's degree and be fluent in both Arabic and English. Accordingly, applications for registration in all disciplines are accepted to include engineers, pilots, members of the armed forces, teachers, and those involved in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and other other functions.

Mechanism for selecting new astronauts

After reviewing all the submitted applications, a committee consisting of an elite of specialists at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center, including astronauts Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi, will undertake the process of evaluating the applicants ’applications. The tests shrink at the end of this stage, in which the applicants are evaluated based on personal interviews, the initial assessments of the candidates, as well as the results of the medical examinations, and then selecting the most appropriate candidates from among them, then the last stage comes to choose two of the applicants to become a thousand leaders DONC coming to join the team of astronauts.

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Emirati who holds a doctorate among the applicants for «Emirates Astronauts».

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