Do childhood dreams come true? Yes, it’s very common for children to have a passion for space, but few of these kids actually fulfill the space dream.
On April 10, 2021 and on a very astounding day, the United Arab Emirates named its first female astronaut.
Nora Al Matrooshi: the woman who set a new record
Among 4,300 candidates to be selected for the program, Nora was the spark! She was chosen along with her male partner, Mohammed Al Mulla. And by that, Nora became the first female Arab astronaut, carved in the UAE’s history.
Nora, 27-year old, holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, was highly welcomed for the job at the UAE’s National Petroleum Construction Company. Also, Nora expressed her affection towards space since her childhood. In addition, she even engaged in stargazing events when she was a child.
“The nation gave me unforgettable moments today. I aim to work hard to script historical moments and achievements that will be etched forever in the memory of our people”
Nora Al Matrooshi
With only 65 women in space, Nora has come a long way in overcoming challenges to be an addition to these women. She’s an inspiration for young girls who wish to be her. Her previous achievements were remarkable too, she secured the first rank in a UAE’s Math Olympiad in the year 2011, and she grew up to volunteer in several fields of science. Ambitious Nora has been this way all her life. She never let obstacles get in her way. They were encouragements to her.
So, Nora held her childhood dream in her hands and kept it, then she let it go in the future to make it real. Nora said she drew inspiration from Hazzaa Al-Mansoori, “UAE’s first astronaut in 2019,” who spent eight days on the International Space Station. There it goes, the long-awaited dream is no longer a dream.
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