| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Other Name | Nora AlMatrooshi |
| Profession(s) | Engineer, Astronaut |
| Famous For | • Being the first Arab and Emirati woman to become an astronaut • Being the first Arab woman to graduate from NASA's training program |
| Physical Stats | |
| Height (approx.) | 5' 4" (163 cm) |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Astronaut Career | |
| Affiliated Space Agency | The United Arab Emirates Space Agency (UAESA) |
| Affiliated Space Center | Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre |
| Service Years | April 2021-present |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | Year, 1993 |
| Age (as of 2025) | 32 Years |
| Birthplace | Emirate of Sharjah, UAE |
| Nationality | Emirati |
| Hometown | Emirate of Sharjah, UAE |
| College/University | • United Arab Emirates University (2011-2015) • Hanyang University (2013) • Vaasa University of Applied Sciences, Finland (2014) |
| Educational Qualification(s) | • Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at United Arab Emirates University • A Korean language course at Hanyang University • A semester of BE in Mechanical Engineering at Vaasa University of Applied Sciences |
| Religion | Islam |
| Hobbies | Reading, Writing, Drawing, Horseback Riding |
| Social Media | • Instagram |
| Relationships & More | |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Family | |
| Parents | Father- Abu Ali (teacher) |
| Siblings | Sister- 1 (doctor in Canada) |
Some Lesser Known Facts About Nora Al Matrooshi
- Nora was raised in a deeply religious Muslim Emirati family.
A photo of Nora Al Matrooshi taken during her childhood
- Her interest in astronomy arose when she was 5 years old, while studying in Kindergarten, as her teacher used to put a black tent on an open ground and ask the children to sit inside it and imagine going to space on a rocket. The teacher had painted the tent like stars and planets from the inside.
- After this, she started reading about stars, planets, meteors, and asteroids and developed an inclination towards maths and physics.
- In 2011, Nora Al Matrooshi was a part of the UAE math olympiad team at the International Mathematical Olympiad. Her team won the olympiad.
- She was sent to South Korea as part of the Youth Ambassadors Programme of the UAE in 2013.
- While undergoing graduation, Nora was the only student who received an A grade in difficult subjects like Introduction to Aerospace and Heat Transfer. She was also a part of the aerospace club at the university in the UAE.
- In 2015, she worked at Takatof as a volunteer.
- From 2016 to January 2023, she was employed as a piping engineer at National Petroleum Construction Company. There, she served as a lead in many projects for Emirati oil companies such as Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Saudi Aramco.
A photo of Nora Al Matrooshi taken while she was working with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC)
- Thereafter, she was appointed for three years to the National Petroleum Construction Company’s youth council as its president. In this position, she assisted the UAE government in devising policies aimed at imparting technical training to the youth.
- Owing to her skills and ability to empower the youth, especially the females, in the UAE, she has served as a UAE representative at the UN International Youth Conference in 2018 and 2019.
- She got inspired to become an astronaut and go to space after watching numerous documentaries on Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon.
- In 2021, the Government of the UAE announced that it would open vacancies for astronaut candidates, who would undergo training to go to the moon, under the UAE Astronaut Program. Therefore, in the second batch, Nora Al Matrooshi filed an application.
- In an interview, she disclosed that there were over 4,000 applicants for just two positions, many of whom were more qualified and better suited for the roles. She also mentioned that she had not anticipated being selected for the program. She applied to the UAE space program in 2018 but was rejected. She talked about it and said,
When I was applying, I didn’t think of the fact that I would be the first female Arab astronaut if I won. I feel very proud and honoured to be that push or milestone for other women who have a goal or dream but are hesitant to pursue it.”
Nora Al Matrooshi giving a motivational speech following her selection in the UAE Astronaut Program
- Following her selection, she was asked to report to the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), where she underwent basic courses, which included swimming, scuba diving, survival exercises, aviation, and stamina improvement through cardiovascular exercises. They also received classes in the Russian language and used to study it for six hours each day.
Nora Al Matrooshi standing outside the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre
- After the completion of her basic training module in Dubai, the authorities had initially planned to send her to the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Moscow Oblast, Russia. However, later, a deal was made between the UAE and the United States of America, and she was sent to train with NASA.
- On 10 April 2021, she was chosen to join the Emirati Astronaut Group 2.
- In 2021, she was selected to attend the astronaut training as part of the NASA Astronaut Group 23 at the Houston-based NASA Johnson Space Center; she had to undergo a 2-hour online aptitude assessment test. There, she underwent a rigorous training module which encompassed spacewalking at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab, robotics, working on ISS systems, piloting the T-38 jet, and taking advanced Russian language lessons.
Nora Al Matrooshi and her colleague, while training underwater in spacesuits at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston
- Thereafter, she reported to Fort Novosel in Alabama, where she underwent a survival training module and took classes to understand Earth’s geology, which would benefit her to do experiments on the surface of the moon.
A photo of Nora Al Matrooshi taken while she was undergoing a survival training module in Alabama
- In 2023, she became a qualified astronaut and received her astronaut wings from NASA and UAESA. The group with which she trained was codenamed “The Flies.”
A photo of Nora Al Matrooshi taken with her group, which qualified for a manned space exploration mission
- With her qualification, she has become one of the few astronauts eligible to take part in lunar and Mars human exploration missions. She became one of four astronauts to be commissioned into the UAE Astronaut Corps.
Nora Al Matrooshi with all the Emirati Astronauts who have been chosen by the UAE government for manned space missions
- According to sources, she has requested the Emirati and NASA officials to specially design an astronaut uniform and a spacesuit so that she can wear her hijab to cover her hair during deep space exploration without compromising on Islamic traditions.
Nora Al Matrooshi wearing her specially designed uniform with a black hijab to cover her head
- As she gained experience working in the oil and energy industry, she was appointed as a technical specialist by ADNOC in 2023.
- She has also served as a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
- Nora’s maternal family consists of sailors. In an interview, she claimed that had she not become an astronaut, she would have become a sailor.
- Other than studying space, Nora also likes to read about the sea, oceans, and marine biology.
- She is multilingual and is fluent in Arabic, Korean, and English.
- While training in the US, Nora claimed that she missed home-cooked food which her mother made.
A content writer, editor, and proofreader with over three years of experience in producing well-researched, user-friendly content that simplifies complex information for readers, helping brands to enhance their online presence.
