The UAE wants a new homegrown astronaut for its second space mission.<\/p>\n
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, announced the second round of open applications on Friday.<\/p>\n
Taking to Twitter, Sheikh Mohammed said men and women with ambition, energy, and determination should apply for the job.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, Salem Al Marri, director of the UAE Astronaut Programme said they had received nearly 1,000 applications in the four hours since registration opened.<\/p>\n
Once again we are witnessing the determination of Emiratis to apply for the programme, he said.<\/p>\n
Hazza Al Mansouri in September became the first Emirati astronaut to be sent into space and was the first Arab to work on the International Space Station.<\/p>\n
He was picked from 4,022 applicants for the first UAE Astronaut Programme after a series of advanced medical and psychological tests.<\/p>\n
The UAE has now launched its search for its next astronaut, with applications invited from degree-educated, adult Emiratis who can speak Arabic and English.<\/p>\n
\"People of all professions are invited to register,\" a statement from the Government of Dubai Media Office said.<\/p>\n
The new search marks a \"new phase of the UAEs space exploration journey\", the statement added.<\/p>\n
The new programme would benefit from the experience of Maj Al Mansouri, a former fighter pilot, and back-up Sultan Al Neyadi, who was also selected from the first programme.<\/p>\n
The number of applications is expected to be high, with the exploits of Maj Al Mansouri capturing imaginations across the country.<\/p>\n
When he successfully returned to Earth in early October, he spoke of the start of a new \"golden era\" of Arab space exploration.<\/p>\n
We are not done yet, and we will never be, he said, as he set off on his journey home. We just began, and we will be back soon.<\/p>\n
The UAE is also planning to send an unmanned probe to Mars in 2021, the year of the UAE's 50th anniversary.<\/p>\n
During a call with Maj Al Mansouri during his mission, Sheikh Mohammed told him: You're a source of pride for all Emiratis. You're the first (Emirati to travel to space) and the first is always remembered. However, I can proudly assure you that a generation of young Emiratis will follow in your footsteps and become space scientists and technology pioneers.<\/p>\n
The search for the next UAE astronaut, who will be trained to carry out scientific missions, has launched exactly two years after the first search got under way.<\/p>\n
Updated: December 7, 2019 05:51 PM<\/p>\n
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Wanted: A new UAE astronaut - The National<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The UAE wants a new homegrown astronaut for its second space mission. Continue reading