(ANSA) - ROME, APRIL 11 - For the first time in their history the United Arab Emirates have a female astronaut.
"We announce the first Arab astronaut who is among the two new astronauts selected from over 4,000 candidates to train with NASA for future space exploration missions.
Congratulations to Noura Al Matrooshi and Mohammed Al Mulla", the vice president and prime minister of the Arab Emirates wrote on Twitter. United, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, accompanying a video in which the historic novelty is celebrated.
"Reaching the space two years ago was just the beginning, after more than 10,000 hours of work completed by the first group and 4,305 candidates who set up for the second, today the UAE has a passionate and committed team", he states in the film in which he introduces himself. The team of four astronauts, including new entry Noura Al Matrooshi, 28, a mechanical engineer at the National Oil Company, member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, wearing the blue space program jumpsuit as colleague and has a black hijab on his head.
Al Mulla, 33, is a pilot of the Dubai Police Air Wing Center, with a 15-year career and over 1,500 hours of flight behind him, as reported by the Space Center of the United Arab Emirates.
"A generation of our young people will see us," said Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, stressing that the astronauts "will face the same preparation and the same experiences and embark on the same journey".
(HANDLE).
