The next Arab achievement in space will involve two Saudi astronauts who are heading to the International Space Station for a 10-day mission.
Rayyanah Barnawi, who is set to become the first Arab female in space, and Ali Al Qarni will be part of the Axiom-2 mission on May 12 from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
It comes nearly 40 years after Saudi Arabia sent the first Arab to space.
Prince Sultan bin Salman went on a week-long trip on the Space Shuttle in 1985.
With the launch only about two months away, The National takes a look at how the Saudi astronauts have been training.
Living in a space habitat
The Ax-2 astronauts have taken part in the Human Exploration Research Analogue (Hera) programme to prepare themselves for their trip.
They spent a week inside the habitat, a small three-storey structure at Nasa's Johnson Space Centre in Houston, which simulates space travel.
The habitat serves as a ground-based analogue for isolation, confinement and remote conditions in exploration scenarios.
"The Hera programme not only prepared us for the physical demands of space travel but also helped us develop the teamwork and communication skills necessary for a successful mission," Mr Al Qarni tweeted.
During their time in the habitat, the crew completed tasks they will conduct on the ISS, underwent rigorous training using equipment and worked through emergency scenarios.
Cooking up space food
The crew has also been learning how to prepare food while on the space station.
Water is heavy, so astronauts usually take dehydrated meals, freeze-dried food and powdered beverages to space, as it helps reduce weight and save storage space.
"Preparing food in space is different than on Earth," Mr Al Qarni tweeted on February 24, along with photos of himself and Ms Barnawi.
Astronauts add water or reheat their food before consumption.
It is thought the Saudi crew will be taking traditional cuisine into space although this has not been made official.
Prince Salman had a special menu on the shuttle, including sweet and sour chicken, boiled sweetcorn, cauliflower cheese, tuna salad, pasta, shrimp, salmon, fried chicken, hot chocolate, fruit and vegetables and decaffeinated coffee and tea.
UAE's first astronaut took traditional Emirati dishes, including balaleet (an Emirati breakfast staple of sweetened vermicelli served with an omelette on top), salona (chicken stew) and madrooba (a savoury thick oatmeal).
And Dr Al Neyadi has also taken dates and other Arab dishes. The full menu will be announced at a later date.
Learning about the station
The Saudi astronauts are also being trained on the systems and equipment on the ISS.
They will dock on the Harmony module, the American segment of the station.
"One of the highlights of astronaut training is having the opportunity to learn about innovative space technologies that are used on board the ISS," Mr Al Qarni said last week.
Ms Al Barnawi and Mr Al Qarni will serve as mission specialists on the ISS, which means they will be conducting scientific experiments and outreach activities.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
WHEN TO GO:
September to November or March to May; this is when visitors are most likely to see what they’ve come for.
WHERE TO STAY:
Meghauli Serai, A Taj Safari - Chitwan National Park resort (tajhotels.com) is a one-hour drive from Bharatpur Airport with stays costing from Dh1,396 per night, including taxes and breakfast. Return airport transfers cost from Dh661.
HOW TO GET THERE:
Etihad Airways regularly flies from Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu from around Dh1,500 per person return, including taxes. Buddha Air (buddhaair.com) and Yeti Airlines (yetiairlines.com) fly from Kathmandu to Bharatpur several times a day from about Dh660 return and the flight takes just 20 minutes. Driving is possible but the roads are hilly which means it will take you five or six hours to travel 148 kilometres.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
Like a Fading Shadow
Antonio Muñoz Molina
Translated from the Spanish by Camilo A. Ramirez
Tuskar Rock Press (pp. 310)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
ASHES SCHEDULE
First Test
November 23-27 (The Gabba, Brisbane)
Second Test
December 2-6 (Adelaide Oval, Adelaide)
Third Test
December 14-18 (Waca Ground, Perth)
Fourth Test
December 26-30 (Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne)
Fifth Test
January 4-8, 2018 (Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney)
TICKETS
For tickets for the two-day Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) event, entitled Dubai Invasion 2019, on September 27 and 28 go to www.meraticket.com.
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Our family matters legal consultant
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Company profile
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Based: Dubai
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Sector: Online gaming industry
Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor
if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning.
The trains
Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.
The hotels
Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.
The biog
Family: Parents and four sisters
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing at American University of Sharjah
A self-confessed foodie, she enjoys trying out new cuisines, her current favourite is the poke superfood bowls
Likes reading: autobiographies and fiction
Favourite holiday destination: Italy
Posts information about challenges, events, runs in other emirates on the group's Instagram account @Anagowrunning
Has created a database of Emirati and GCC sportspeople on Instagram @abeermk, highlight: Athletes
Apart from training, also talks to women about nutrition, healthy lifestyle, diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure
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