Want to Be an Astronaut? Nora Al Matrooshi Reveals the Path

At the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival 2026, Emirati astronaut Nora Al Matrooshi captivated audiences with her lessons on what it truly takes to become an astronaut. Al Matrooshi, who made history in 2021 as the first Arab woman chosen for the UAE Astronaut Programme, emphasized that the path to space is built on years of preparation, not sudden decisions.

She traced her fascination with space back to a classroom exercise in childhood, which eventually led her to pursue mechanical engineering at the United Arab Emirates University. Later, she completed NASA’s Astronaut Candidate Class in 2024, officially earning her astronaut pin and becoming fully qualified for future missions.

Key Highlights

• Early Inspiration: Childhood curiosity sparked her lifelong interest in space.
• Educational Foundation: Mechanical engineering degree, with global exposure in Finland.
• Professional Experience: Worked as a piping engineer at NPCC before astronaut selection.
• NASA Training: Graduated from NASA’s Astronaut Candidate Class in 2024.
• Core Message: Becoming an astronaut requires resilience, technical expertise, and years of preparation.

Sources: Gulf News, MBRSC (Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre), Wikipedia