9 March 2024
In a significant milestone for space exploration and gender diversity, Nora AlMatrooshi, a 30-year-old Muslim Hijab-cladastronaut, has become the first Arab woman to graduate from NASA’s rigorous astronaut training program. With her eyes set on lunar exploration, AlMatrooshi’s journey represents a significant step forward for both the United Arab Emirates and the broader Arab world in the realm of space exploration.
AlMatrooshi’s fascination with space began in her childhood, inspired by a simulated lunar surface experience conducted by her elementary school teacher. This early encounter ignited her passion for space exploration, eventually leading her to pursue a career as a mechanical engineer in the oil industry before being selected by the United Arab Emirates Space Agency (UAESA) to join NASA’s astronaut training program in 2021.
Over the course of two years, AlMatrooshi, alongside her fellow Emirati astronaut Mohammad AlMulla and 10 other candidates, underwent intensive training that included simulated spacewalks and mission preparations. Now, fully qualified astronauts, they are poised to participate in NASA missions…
[Read more on radiancenews.com]