Etihad Airways has offered its heartfelt congratulations to Emiratis, Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Nayadi, who have been selected as the first Arab Nationals to visit the International Space Station.
Hazza and Sultan were chosen ahead of more than 4,000 candidates for the
landmark mission to the habitable satellite hovering above earth.
The Emirati pair conducted extensive medical examinations performed by
specialists at the Etihad Aeromedical Centre in June as part of their selection
process.
Etihad also conducted medical assessments for 95 Mohammed bin Rashid
Space Centre astronaut candidates who were shortlisted for the UAE Astronaut
Programme.
Dr. Nadia Bastaki, Vice President Medical Services, Etihad Aviation
Group, said: “Etihad is delighted to partner with the Mohammed bin Rashid Space
Centre and make this important contribution which will see UAE nationals enter
space for the very first time. We congratulate Hazza and Sultan and wish them
the very best as their prepare for their mission.”
An integral part of the UAE National Space Programme, the UAE Astronaut Programme
is geared to train Emirati astronauts for different scientific space missions.
The Etihad Aeromedical Centre is one of the few facilities in the region
staffed with specialists who have an understanding of the environment in space
and its requirements.
The examinations include exhaustive medical check-ups that follow
international best practices that are in-line with NASA standards.