UAE pilot begins 45-day NASA Mars project

An Emirati pilot who was selected for NASA’s simulated Mars journey is set to begin his mission in Houston, Texas.

Shareef Al Romaithi and crew members will live and work in isolation inside a special habitat for 45 days for the project that will simulate a journey to the red planet.

In April, the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre announced Al Romaithi's selection for the second analog study of the UAE Analog Programme, as part of a NASA research campaign.

The project is designed to help scientists study how crew members adapt to difficult conditions before they embark on deep space missions. 

Here is an overview of the second analog study of the UAE Analog Programme, starting tomorrow as part of NASA's Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA). pic.twitter.com/6oNo7ENtEW

— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) May 9, 2024

The team will spend time in the confined space environment to see what the impact of the isolation is on organ functions. 

The UAE is taking part in four phases of the research, each of which lasts for 45 days.