If you’ve survived the Formula Rosso at Yas Island’s Ferrari World, then it might be time to consider a new career as the UAE’s first astronaut.
With a top speed of 240kph, the world’s fastest roller coaster produces a g-force of about 4.8 - higher than a rocket blasting into space.
As the UAE prepares to begin the search for up to six pioneering astronauts who will carry the country’s space ambitions to new heights, being able to withstand the forces subjected to the human body on lift off and re-entry is just one of the qualifications.
According to Salem Humaid Al Marri, assistant director general at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, the search for the UAE’s first astronauts could begin as early as the end of this year.
Read more: UAE ready to train its first astronauts from as early as next year.
Once the selection has been made, the successful candidates will then go years of training, with the aim sending the first man – or woman – into space by 2021, the UAE’s 50th birthday. While has not been specified, it is likely that UAE nationals will be given priority.
But what are the other requirements needed to be an astronaut – what the writer Tom Wolfe called “the Right Stuff” when referring to the first Americans to go in space nearly 60 years ago.
“The most important characteristic for an astronaut is perseverance,” said Dr Deborah Barnhart, the CEO of Space Camp, an education programme at the US Space & Rocket Centre in Alabama.
Dr Barnhart, who will be visiting the UAE next week as part of Discover America month, said she has known would-be astronauts who were turned down up to five times before finally being accepted by Nasa.
Space Camp is an educational venture designed to promote interest in science and space among young people, include several who went on to become astronauts.
“First of all you will need dedication to high achievement in whatever you do,” she said.
The ability to work in a team is also vital.
“You should also be a well rounded individual, capable of doing as many things as you can," she said.
Nasa divides the basic requirements for new astronauts into three areas.
The first is a degree in one of three areas, science, technology, engineering and mathematics. This is important because today’s astronauts need to be able to carry out research and experiments, especially on the International Space Station.
Nasa astronauts also need at least three years' experience in their chosen field of expertise, or 1,000 hours piloting a jet aircraft.
Finally, they must be physically fit.
The fitness requirement is not as tough as it once was. You can wear glasses, as long as they correct your vision to 20/20. Almost anyone with normal weight and fitness can safely go into low Earth orbit with the right training, which typically take a minimum of two years before a mission.
The first astronauts were also noticeably short. Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, and Neil Armstrong, the first man on the Moon, were all under 5ft 9ins. Gagarin, who piloted Vostok 1 in 1961, was only 5ft 1ins.
Being short made it easier to fit into the cramped capsules of the first rockets. The newest ships, like the Boeing Starliner, are spacious by comparison, seating up to seven, including passengers. And while it still helps to be shorter, Jim Wetherbee, who holds the record for Space Shuttle missions at five, is 1.93 metres, or 6ft 4ins.
Age need not be a barrier. Astronauts are getting younger all the time, although the youngest person in space was also the second man in space; Gherman Titov was just 25 when he flew Vosktok 2, just four months after Gagarin.
Watch: Gherman Titov becomes the youngest person in space.
Of the latest intake of 30 Nasa astronauts, a third are aged 30 or younger. Nor is old age necessarily a barrier. John Glenn was 77 years old when he returned to space in 1998 on the shuttle Discovery.
It will also help if you have a good exercise regime. Staying fit in low or zero gravity is one of the great challenges of long term space travel, where the danger is muscle and bone density loss. Both Nasa and the European Space Agency have developed exercise routines for astronaut training.
Once in orbit, astronauts on the International Space Station have access to specially designed exercise machines including weights and treadmills. Typically, Nasa astronauts will spend two and half hours a day exercising while in orbit. Some astronauts have even completed marathons while orbiting the Earth.
It's not for nothing that the boots in the latest spacesuits designed for the Starliner are made by Reebok.
EA%20Sports%20FC%2024
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
Asia Cup 2018 final
Who: India v Bangladesh
When: Friday, 3.30pm, Dubai International Stadium
Watch: Live on OSN Cricket HD
RACE CARD
6.30pm Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200
7.05pm Handicap Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
7.40pm Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 1,400m
9.25pm Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 2,000m
The National selections:
6.30pm Underwriter
7.05pm Rayig
7.40pm Torno Subito
8.15pm Talento Puma
8.50pm Etisalat
9.25pm Gundogdu
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStreaming%20on%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMBC%20Shahid%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog
Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus
Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India
Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes
Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island
'The Batman'
Stars:Robert Pattinson
Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 5/5
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Student Of The Year 2
Director: Punit Malhotra
Stars: Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria, Ananya Pandey, Aditya Seal
1.5 stars
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 (Turf) 1,400m. Winner: Al Ajeeb W’Rsan, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Jaci Wickham (trainer).
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 (T) 1,400m racing. Winner: Mujeeb, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel.
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 90,000 (T) 2,200m. Winner: Onward, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
6.30pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown Prep Rated Conditions (PA) Dh 125,000 (T) 2,200m. Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle.
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (T) 1,600m. Winner: AF Arrab, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 90,000 (T) 1,400m. Winner: Irish Freedom, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
No more lice
Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
Tom Fletcher on 'soft power'
Profile of Tamatem
Date started: March 2013
Founder: Hussam Hammo
Based: Amman, Jordan
Employees: 55
Funding: $6m
Funders: Wamda Capital, Modern Electronics (part of Al Falaisah Group) and North Base Media
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
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Match statistics
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 36 Bahrain 32
Harlequins
Tries: Penalty 2, Stevenson, Teasdale, Semple
Cons: Stevenson 2
Pens: Stevenson
Bahrain
Tries: Wallace 2, Heath, Evans, Behan
Cons: Radley 2
Pen: Radley
Man of the match: Craig Nutt (Harlequins)
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
UAE v Zimbabwe A
Results
Match 1 – UAE won by 4 wickets
Match 2 – UAE won by 5 wickets
Match 3 – UAE won by 25 runs
Match 4 – UAE won by 77 runs
Fixture
Match 5, Saturday, 9.30am start, ICC Academy, Dubai
