Nora Al Matrooshi recalls a lesson about space in elementary school, where the teacher simulated a trip to the moon using a homemade astronaut suit and a rocket tent.
She recounts: “We stepped out of the tent and saw the teacher had turned off the lights in the classroom. She covered everything with a gray cloth and told us that we were on the moon.”
This lesson left a profound impression on Al Matrooshi, igniting her passion for space exploration. That vivid memory inspired her to pursue a real-life journey to the moon.
Now, in her blue suit embroidered with her name and the flag of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Al Matrooshi reflects on the moment that set her on the path to becoming an astronaut.
Al Matrooshi is one of two astronauts selected by the UAE Space Agency (UAESA) to participate in NASA’s astronaut training program in 2021.
Some of the subjects Al Matrooshi studied include robotics, the systems of the International Space Station (ISS), and piloting supersonic jets. She also participated in a spacewalk training course at one of the largest indoor swimming pools in the world.
Nora Al Matrooshi (right) at her graduation ceremony at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, USA, on March 5, 2024.
After two years of hard work, Al Matrooshi, along with former Dubai Police helicopter pilot Mohammad Al Mulla and ten others in the training program, became qualified astronauts. The group, called “The Flies”, is now eligible to participate in NASA missions to the ISS, the Artemis moon missions, and, if all goes well, they may even fly to Mars.
Earlier this year, UAESA announced plans to build a wind station for the Gateway, a space station being developed to orbit the moon. Al Matrooshi stated: “I want to take humanity further. I want people to return to the moon, and I want humanity to go beyond the moon. I want to be part of that journey.”
After completing her course, Al Matrooshi expressed her desire to share her training experiences with her grandmother, who played a crucial role in shaping her path, as well as her mother.
Al Matrooshi’s grandmother is a supporter of feminism and has inspired her descendants to pursue academic paths.
“She always wanted to show her children that they are capable, and she inspired my mother to be herself. Then, my mother inspired me to become who I am today,” she said.
Recently, an article in Nature by Dr. Farhan M. Asrar, Safa Siddiqui, and Dr. Soyeon Yi highlighted the progress of Arab women in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
In the field of space, the article mentions pioneering Arab women, including Rayyanah Barnawi, the first female astronaut from Saudi Arabia who flew into space on an eight-day mission last year.
In the Arab world, the percentage of women in the space sector is on the rise. According to UNESCO, 34% to 57% of graduates in STEM fields in Arab countries are female. This figure is significantly higher than in universities in the USA or Europe. The number of Arab women working in the international space sector accounts for 20% to 22% of the workforce.
