UAE astronauts challenged to survive for days alone in Russian winter wilderness

The UAE’s first astronauts are to be sent on a gruelling mission in sub-zero Russian winter temperatures as part of the next phase of their preparation for space.

Hazza Al Mansouri, 34, and Sultan Al Neyadi, 37, who were chosen last year from more than 4,000 applicants to be the first Emiratis to undergo astronaut training, are currently taking part in a rigorous programme at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, north-east of Moscow, Russia.

The next phase of that training will involve learning winter survival skills, which will be a key component of preparations for one of them to board the Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station in April.

The outdoor training will simulate what could happen if the capsule has to come back to Earth in an emergency and crash-land in a remote location.

“I was with the astronauts yesterday and they are preparing for winter survival training,” said Salem Humaid Al Marri, assistant director general for science and technology at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, during a science education event in Dubai on Sunday.

“They will be left in a remote area with conditions similar to a Siberian winter and they will have to survive for two to three days on their own. This is a pre-requisite for any astronaut before they go on the Soyuz rocket.

Mr Al Marri said that while the astronauts would not have to travel to Siberia itself, temperatures will be at least as low as -10°C.

He also said that training directors are delighted with the progress the UAE astronauts have been making.

“They are doing great," he said.

"I have had meetings with our Russian colleagues and they said our astronauts are on a par with their American and Russian trainees.

“That shows us we have selected well.”

The National