MBRSC names Emirati crewmember for UAE Analog Programme

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) has selected Captain Engineer Obaid Al-Suwaidi to participate in the second analog study, as part of NASA's Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) Campaign 7 Mission.

Al-Suwaidi will join a diverse crew, including Kristen Magas, Tiffany Snyder, and Anderson Wilder, for a 45-day mission, starting on November 1, within the Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) facility at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. 

The HERA habitat is a three-story structure designed to replicate the conditions of space exploration, providing a unique environment for studying human adaptability to isolation and confinement.

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

During this mission, the crew will engage in various experiments that simulate the challenges of long-term space travel, particularly as it relates to missions to Mars. 

Activities will include a simulated "walk" on Mars using virtual reality and tasks such as vegetable cultivation and shrimp farming. A critical focus will be on assessing the psychological and physiological effects of isolation on crew performance and well-being.

The mission will also incorporate communication delays, simulating the time lags that astronauts might experience as they journey deeper into space. These delays, which could extend up to five minutes, are essential for understanding how future astronauts might cope with similar scenarios during interplanetary missions.

The study will involve 18 human health experiments, examining behavioral and psychological responses in a controlled environment. 

Adnan AlRais, Assistant Director General for the Space Operations and Exploration Sector at MBRSC, expressed pride in AlSuwaidi's selection, stating, “His involvement strengthens our scientific foundation in addressing the human factors of long-duration spaceflight. The findings from this study will play a crucial role in shaping future strategies for deep space missions, reinforcing the UAE’s position as a key player in space exploration.”

This mission marks the fourth group of volunteers participating in the HERA analog study this year, building on previous phases completed in March, June, and September 2024.