Emirati Engineer to Represent UAE in NASA's HERA Study
Obaid Al-Suwaidi has been chosen by the MBRSC for NASA's Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) Campaign 7.
Captain Engineer Obaid Al-Suwaidi has been chosen by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) to represent the UAE in NASA's Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) Campaign 7.
The 45-day mission, beginning on November 1, will take place at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, where Al-Suwaidi will join an international crew, including Kristen Magas, Tiffany Snyder, and Anderson Wilder.
The HERA facility—a multi-level habitat designed to mimic space exploration environments—will serve as the setting for this analog mission.
Participants will engage in a series of experiments that simulate the demands of long-duration space travel, such as Mars missions. These activities include a virtual reality "walk" on Mars, vegetable cultivation, and shrimp farming, aimed at evaluating human adaptability to confined spaces and isolation.
The mission will replicate communication delays, mimicking time lags that astronauts may face during interplanetary journeys. Delays of up to five minutes will be implemented to better understand the psychological and operational challenges astronauts could experience. A total of 18 human health experiments will be conducted to monitor behavioral and physiological responses in the controlled environment.
Adnan AlRais, Assistant Director General for the Space Operations and Exploration Sector at MBRSC, expressed pride in Al-Suwaidi’s selection: "His participation enhances our scientific approach to addressing the human factors of extended space travel. The results from this mission will significantly influence future strategies for deep-space exploration, solidifying the UAE's role in global space initiatives."
This mission will be the fourth HERA study conducted this year, following successful completions in March, June, and September, advancing the ongoing research into human performance during space exploration.
On November 1, the upcoming phase of the UAE Analog Programme's second analog study will commence, simulating a journey to Mars here on Earth. The study involves the participation of an Emirati analog crewmember and includes experiments from UAE universities.#UAEAnalogProgramme pic.twitter.com/JoMSD1hNzo
— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) October 20, 2024
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