Photo has been used for illustrative purposes.

Yamama Bedwan, Staff Reporter

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre announced on Saturday that the members of the CrewOne, which will include two persons participating in the UAE Analog Mission, would be revealed soon. The 8-month mission will be conducted in a ground-based analog facility in Moscow (Institute of Biomedical Research – the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow).

The MBRSC stated in a video posted on Twitter, “The Emirati crew, which will be revealed, includes two persons: one is basic and the other is reserve. One crew member from UAE along with another five crew members from different parts of the world will be participating in this simulation and analog mission.

“This mission is part of as part of the Scientific International Research in Unique Terrestrial Station (SIRIUS) SIRIUS 20/21, and will focus on studying the effects of isolation and confinement on human psychology, physiology and team dynamics to help prepare for long-duration space exploration,” the MBRSC added.

The mission is a first of its kind opportunity for Emiratis in various scientific fields to be part of such a crucial mission that lays the foundation for future space endeavour. The UAE Analog Mission#1 will play a key role in developing Emirati capabilities and contribute to the development of the Mars 2117 Programme, which aims to establish human colonies in Mars by 2117.

The selected candidates for the UAE Analog Mission#1 will become part of CrewONE that will participate in SIRIUS20/21. The candidates should be between the ages of 28 and 55, passionate about space and be able to communicate in English. Preferred occupations include physicians, medical investigators, physiologists, biologists, life-support specialists, and IT and electronics professionals.

During the isolation period, participants will be allowed to communicate with their families in specific periods and times, similar to astronauts, and in the same way. They will be able to access the Internet and telephone communications. Moreover, they will take many psychological and physical tests and other tests on certain technologies, which is a simulation of long-term space flights.

The isolation period is the hardest part of the mission. The participants will live in a narrow space of five rooms without windows, which prevents them from seeing what is happening outside.

They will be not allowed to communicate with the outside world directly, and they cannot hear any sound from outside, but they can communicate with the operations and monitoring center around the clock.

They will subject to periodic blood analysis, like the astronauts, and the results are sent to the medical team outside, in order to monitor their medical and psychological condition. In addition, they will be provided with medicines and devices they need to conduct the examinations, along with sufficient food, medical supplies and clothes once every two weeks.

In April 2020, the MBRSC announced the results of the second phase of shortlisting the candidates for the mission. It included 10 candidates, including 5 women, the youngest of them is 25 years old woman, while the oldest is a 40-year-old man. The candidates are from diverse professional backgrounds such as engineering, medicine, and science.