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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.

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2 years ago

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nasa's hera campaign 7 reveals new emirati crew member
NASA

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.

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.

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For etisalat, More Bandwidth Is A Matter Of Digital Sovereignty

The etisalat group plans to expand its international capacity from 20 Tbps to more than 500 Tbps by 2030, with new routes designed for speed and resilience.

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2 days ago

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October 6, 2026

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for etisalat, more bandwidth is a matter of digital sovereignty
Emirates News Agency

By 2030, etisalat group plans to lift its international connectivity capacity to more than 500 terabits per second (Tbps), more than 25 times the 20 Tbps it has today. The group presented the expansion as preparation for rising AI demand and an important move for the UAE’s digital sovereignty.

His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, witnessed the launch of the project, which covers the UAE and international markets. Sheikh Mansour is also Chairman of the Emirates Investment Authority, etisalat group’s main shareholder.

He emphasized the role of coordinated national efforts in advancing the UAE’s AI and digital economy ambitions. “AI is a central pillar in our development journey moving forward,” he said, adding that developing the country’s digital capabilities would empower every institution, public and private, to build and innovate with AI “at the scale the coming decade will demand”.

“This project reflects our conviction that the UAE should not simply adopt AI, but govern it and build with it,” said H.E Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Alzaabi, Chairman of etisalat group. “That requires digital infrastructure at a scale that would prepare us for the future”. He cast greater international connectivity as a strategic answer to the challenges of processing and moving data globally.

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Beyond raw bandwidth, the expansion will introduce new connectivity routes intended to improve reliability and efficiency, and Alzaabi tied them directly to the sovereignty goal. “Delivered through diversified routes and low-latency design, the project is set to keep the country’s connection to the global digital economy fast, direct and resilient, while ensuring the UAE’s digital sovereignty,” he said.

He also linked the plan to the group’s 50-year commitment to building infrastructure for the nation. The announcement didn’t mention what the expansion will cost. Nor did it name the new routes or say who will build them, the details that would show what digital sovereignty means in practice.

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