In the heart of Nasa’s Johnson Space Centre in Houston, a group of volunteers is undergoing some of the most rigorous training imaginable – preparing for the day when humans will step foot on Mars.
The Human Exploration Research Analogue (Hera) programme simulates the conditions astronauts will face during long-duration space missions and life on the Red Planet, including isolation, confinement and communication delays.
The space agency announced the latest mission under this programme in which a crew of four volunteers will spend 45 days in a controlled habitat.
Among them is recently announced Obaid Alsuwaidi, a captain engineer from the UAE Ministry of Defence, marking the third time an Emirati has been selected for a simulated deep-space, or analogue, mission.
Mr Alsuwaidi has a master’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from George Washington University. He provides guidance in civil and marine engineering to the Ministry of Defence.
Dimitra Atri, an astrophysicist at the New York University Abu Dhabi, who specialises in Mars research, told The National that these kinds of missions were important for when humans would one day land on the Red Planet.
“Analogue missions enhance operational efficiency by training astronauts to perform tasks such as setting up habitats and operating rovers in harsh environments,” Dr Atri said.
“They also improve resource management by simulating limited access to essentials like water, oxygen, and power.
“Testing spacesuits, habitats and equipment under Mars-like conditions helps identify design flaws, ensuring technology can withstand the Martian environment.”
The Hera mission will begin in November and includes three American volunteers.
Simulated delays
During the mission, the crew will carry out science research and operational tasks, including raising shrimp, growing vegetables and “walking” on the surface of Mars using virtual reality.
They will also experience communication delays lasting up to five minutes as they “near” Mars, allowing researchers to see how crews may respond to the type of delays astronauts will encounter in deep space.
Astronauts travelling to the Red Planet may encounter one-way communication delays lasting as long as 20 minutes, according to Nasa.
“Simulating communication delays with Earth also prepares the crew to make autonomous decisions and manage operations independently,” said Dr Atri.
“These missions help us learn about team dynamics and mental health, revealing how astronauts cope with isolation and stress during long-duration missions.
“Emergency response protocols are refined by practicing real-life scenarios, such as equipment malfunctions or environmental hazards, helping astronauts sharpen their problem-solving skills.”
Who's taking part?
The crew joining Mr Alsuwaidi also bring a diverse set of skills crucial for the simulated Mars mission. Kristen Magas, an educator and engineer from Massachusetts, mentors students in Nasa’s design programmes and specialises in developing space-related prototypes.
Tiffany Snyder, a cyber security expert at Nasa, ensures that missions are protected from digital threats, while Anderson Wilder, a psychology doctoral student, focuses on the psychological effects of space travel, having previously participated in Mars analogue missions.
Mr Alsuwaidi is the second Emirati to take part in the Hera programme, after Emirati pilot Shareef Al Romaithi also completed a 45-day mission in June.
Saleh Al Ameri, a mechanical engineer, was the first Emirati to participate in an analogue mission, when he spent eight-months inside a controlled habitat in Moscow, Russia, in 2022.
There are global efforts, led by Nasa and private companies like Elon Musk's SpaceX, to make human missions to Mars a reality.
SpaceX is developing the Starship rocket, with plans by Mr Musk to eventually send people to Mars so that humans become a multi-planetary species.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, which oversees the UAE's Analogue Programme, has plans to develop analogue centres in Dubai, as part of the planned Dh500 million Mars Science City.
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Rating: 1 out of 4
Running time: 81 minutes
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Starring: Sarah Yarkin, Elsie Fisher, Mark Burnham
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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COMPANY PROFILE
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Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
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MATCH INFO
Manchester United v Everton
Where: Old Trafford, Manchester
When: Sunday, kick-off 7pm (UAE)
How to watch: Live on BeIN Sports 11HD
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
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US tops drug cost charts
The study of 13 essential drugs showed costs in the United States were about 300 per cent higher than the global average, followed by Germany at 126 per cent and 122 per cent in the UAE.
Thailand, Kenya and Malaysia were rated as nations with the lowest costs, about 90 per cent cheaper.
In the case of insulin, diabetic patients in the US paid five and a half times the global average, while in the UAE the costs are about 50 per cent higher than the median price of branded and generic drugs.
Some of the costliest drugs worldwide include Lipitor for high cholesterol.
The study’s price index placed the US at an exorbitant 2,170 per cent higher for Lipitor than the average global price and the UAE at the eighth spot globally with costs 252 per cent higher.
High blood pressure medication Zestril was also more than 2,680 per cent higher in the US and the UAE price was 187 per cent higher than the global price.
