Nora Al Matrooshi, named the first Arab female astronaut at age 28, has achieved so much. She is an Emirati woman who is an inspiration to women in the region. As Al Matrooshi is set to take her first trip to space and make history as the first UAE female astronaut, she is a force to be reckoned with.
Here, GRAZIA tells you 10 things to know about Nora Al Matrooshi.
1. She’s following her childhood dream
With big ambitions, Al Matrooshi first dreamed about becoming an astronaut as a child. Al Matrooshi told France 24 in an interview that her love for space first ignited when she was young during an arts and crafts classroom activity to create astronaut equipment and the classroom was transformed into space. “That day was the day I started wanting to be an astronaut when I grow up,” she recalled.
2. She’s A Qualified Engineer
Al Matrooshi graduated from the United Arab Emirates University with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and trained at Vaasa University of Applied Sciences in Finland. Before becoming the first Arab female astronaut, she was an engineer at The National Petroleum Construction Company and is also a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
3. But Nora actually comes from a family of sailors
While she’s reaching for the stars, Al Matrooshi’s family are more acquainted with the sea. During a previous press conference in 2021, Al Matrooshi revealed her mother’s side of the family come from a long line of saliors. “My mum’s side of the family are sailors,” she said. “I’d say they explored the ocean. The term ‘astronaut’ means ‘star sailor’ in Greek.”
4. The First Female uAE Astronaut
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Al Matrooshi, who hails from the emirate of Sharjah, was announced as the UAE’s first female astronaut in April 2021, being selected to train with the NASA Astronaut Group 23 alongside fellow colleague Mohammad AlMulla. They follow in the footsteps of Sultan Al Neyadi and Hazzaa Al Mansoori.
5. She was one of 4,000 candidates
Al Matrooshi was picked from 4,000 candidates to train with the NASA Space agency for upcoming space missions.
6. but, At First, She didn’t make the Cut
She was initially rejected from the Nation’s Space Program in 2018 but that did not stop her from applying a second time and getting it. “I actually did apply to the first batch, but unfortunately I didn’t make it,” she recalled previously. “The second batch was my second chance. It was my opportunity to achieve the dream that I wanted since I was a child.”
7. A long list of accomplishments
Along with being the first Arab female astronaut, Al Matrooshi is apart of The American Society of Mechanical Engineers. She also ranked first in the UAE for the 2011 International Mathematical Olympiad. Additionally, she represented the UAE at the UN International Youth Conference in 2018 and 2019.
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8. Nora is here to inspire others
Naturally, being the first-ever female Emirati astronaut, she’s going to inspire many young women, and she’s here to share a positive message to all. “My message to everyone is if I can do it, you can do it,” she said, according to Dubai Media Office. “And if no one has done it before then you can just go ahead and be the first, because if you have the ambition and drive you will find opportunities everywhere at any time.”
9. Rigorous traning
Since January 2022, Al Matrooshi has been training alongside her colleague Mohammed Al Mulla at the Nasa Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas. The pair are set to graduate next year, it was confirmed by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre earlier this year.
10. She will set off on her first mission to space in 2024
Following Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi’s safe return to earth last month, the UAE is already planning its next mission to space and it’s set to be a groundbreaking one – the emirates’ first female astronaut will embark on a mission to space. The exciting news that Nora will be heading to space in 2024 was announced by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, describing it as a “significant milestone that awaits us”, alongside Mohammed Al Mulla’s mission to space, also to take place next year.
