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NASA’s HERA Campaign 7 Reveals New Emirati Crew Member
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre has chosen Shareef Al Romaithi to undertake simulated missions on Earth.
The United Arab Emirates has named a crew member for the upcoming phase of NASA’s Mars simulation mission. Shareef Al Romaithi will join the next phase of NASA’s HERA Campaign 7, spending 45 days at NASA’s Houston, Texas Space Centre with his fellow crew members.
Phase 2 of the second analog study of the UAE Analog Programme is set to begin on May 10. This phase will include an Emirati analog crew member and six experiments from Emirati universities. pic.twitter.com/gxx0F9wjxX
— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) April 15, 2024
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) revealed Al Romaithi’s selection on April 15, 2024. The project, starting on May 10, 2024, seeks to replicate Martian mission conditions to explore the impact of space travel on human physiology and psychology.
Al Romaithi, a seasoned pilot with over 16 years of aviation experience, will reside in a specialized facility in Houston known as HERA (Human Exploration Research Analog). The three-story habitat simulates the isolation and environmental conditions of space exploration in a program spanning multiple phases. The first phase concluded in March, with subsequent phases scheduled for August and November.
The UAE’s MBRSC highlighted Al Romaithi’s involvement in the mission via X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing his role in advancing space exploration. The selection marks a significant step in the UAE’s space endeavors, showcasing its commitment to international collaborations in space exploration.
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“We are pleased to announce the selection of Shareef Al Romaithi for the second analogue study of the UAE Analogue Programme at the Hera habitat, marking another significant step towards the UAE’s vision for space exploration,” said the director general of MBRSC, Salem Al Marri.
“This mission, blending scientific research and international collaboration with NASA, is poised to deepen our understanding of the physiological and psychological challenges of long-duration space travel through experiments here on Earth,” added Salem Al Marri. “The UAE is honored to be part of this journey, and we will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible and inspire future generations to be part of the space sector,” the director general concluded.
News
Paymob Extends Series B Funding To $72M Amid Continued Growth
The financial services provider has secured an extra $22 million after strong performance in its core market of Egypt.
Leading financial services provider Paymob has secured an additional $22 million in a funding extension, bringing its Series B total to $72 million.
The funding was spearheaded by EBRD Venture Capital, with support from Endeavor Catalyst. Existing backers such as PayPal Ventures, BII, FMO, A15, Nclude, and Helios Digital Ventures also participated, reaffirming their confidence in Paymob’s business model and potential in the regional fintech industry.
This extension comes on the back of Paymob’s strong performance in its core market of Egypt, where it has experienced 6x revenue growth since the initial Series B in Q2 2022. With the Series B extension and continued profitability in Egypt, Paymob is well-positioned to further its expansion strategy across the MENA region.
Islam Shawky, Co-founder and CEO of Paymob, commented: “We are very excited by our strong prospects in Egypt – where we hold a market-leading position – and the significant traction experienced in the UAE since launching operations there. This funding will help Paymob fully capitalize on the momentum in our established markets, as we accelerate our GCC roll-out. We remain committed to creating cutting-edge infrastructure enabling SMEs across the region to thrive in the digital economy and are proud of our continued impact”.
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The expansion into GCC markets has been driven by Paymob’s initial Series B funding of $50 million, raised in 2022 and led by Kora Capital, PayPal Ventures, and Clay Point. The investment fueled Paymob’s growth, allowing it to launch its mobile app in 2023 and grow its merchant base by 3.5 times, now serving nearly 350,000 merchants across MENA.
Paymob has also expanded its payment acceptance suite to offer 50 payment methods through its gateway, POS terminals, and the Paymob app, providing the region’s most comprehensive fintech solution. The company recently introduced embedded checkout services for Shopify and WooCommerce, further demonstrating its commitment to empowering small and medium businesses across the region.
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