MBRSC shortlists 10 candidates for UAE analog mission

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) has shortlisted 10 candidates for the UAE Analog Mission#1, it announced on April 14.

Part of the Scientific International Research in Unique Terrestrial Station (SIRIUS) SIRIUS 20/21, it is an eight-month long analog mission conducted at the NEK ground-based analog facility in Moscow, Russia.

Two finalists (one primary and one backup) will be selected from 10 shortlisted Emiratis to become part of CrewONE.

The mission will focus on studying the effects of isolation and confinement on human psychology, physiology and team dynamics to prepare for a long-duration space exploration mission.

The UAE Analog Mission#1 will be instrumental in developing Emirati capabilities and will contribute to the development of the Mars 2117 programme, which aims to establish human colonies on the red planet by 2117.

Emirati candidates between the ages of 25 and 55, who were passionate about space and could communicate in English, were invited to apply.

Preferred occupations included physicians, medical investigators, physiologists, biologists, life-support specialists, and IT and electronics professionals.

The shortlisted candidates include five women. The youngest shortlisted applicant is aged 25, while the oldest is a 40-year-old male. Candidates hail from varied career backgrounds including engineering, medicine and science.

All 10 candidates will undergo a medical exam to ascertain their fitness levels, followed by a remote psychometric test. Evaluations will be based on their commitment, teamwork, ability to stay calm under pressure, effective time management, and other skills.

Following these tests, a final interview will be conducted by MBRSC’s senior leadership team in the first week of May, following which one primary member and one backup member of CrewONE will be selected.

“Guided by the futuristic vision of our leadership, the UAE has progressed exponentially in space research and exploration; and through international collaborations such as the SIRIUS 20/21 mission, we continue to develop our local capabilities and move closer towards building a knowledge-based economy,” said Yousuf Hamad AlShaibani, director general, MBRSC.

“The UAE Analog Mission#1 is unique because it allows us to work with a global pool of experts across a variety of sectors including health, science, technology and more. Such experiences will ultimately help fortify the UAE’s pioneering space program in the region for years to come,”

Adnan AlRais, Mars 2117 programme manager at MBRSC, added, “We are happy with the overall quality of the candidates who have been shortlisted for the UAE Analog Mission#1. All of them are of a high calibre, well-knowledgeable when it comes to the analog mission and capable of enduring challenges associated with it.

“We look forward to selecting the final crew members from this pool of talented candidates. Their varied experience and expertise, along with those of the other crew members selected for the mission, will contribute to the realisation of the Mars 2117 programme and enable us to undertake more ambitious space exploration challenges.”