The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) has officially selected 14 candidates for the UAE Space Programme.
Currently, two astronauts were selected in the first round of the programme namely, Hazzaa Al Mansoori and Sultan Al Neyadi. Two more astronauts will be selected out of the 14, to join them for the UAE Space Programme.
The selection process was conducted in four phases.
The first phase included a test of their IQ, personality and technical knowledge, the second phase involved virtual interviews, the third was a series of advanced tests to ensure the candidates were of optimum health, and the final phase included interviews with NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Jessica Meir and the UAE astronauts Hazzaa Al Mansoori and Sultan Al Neyadi.
This programme saw a great turnover in the number of applicants and is a step closer to establishing UAE's Space Programme.