The UAE's Captain Engineer Obaid Al-Suwaidi has concluded his participation in a study that stimulates the challenges of long-term space travel in collaboration with NASA.
The 45-day second analog study, which is part of NASA's Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) Campaign 7 Mission, particularly related to missions to Mars.
Al-Suwaid joined Kristen Magas, Tiffany Snyder, and Anderson Wilder in activities like a simulated "walk" on Mars using virtual reality and tasks such as vegetable cultivation and shrimp farming. A critical focus will be on assessing the psychological and physiological effects of isolation on crew performance and well-being.
The HERA habitat is a three-story structure designed to replicate the conditions of space exploration, providing a unique environment for studying human adaptability to isolation and confinement.
During the study, Al-Suwaidi conducted 18 scientific experiments, including six from Emirati universities.
This mission marks the fourth group of volunteers participating in the HERA analog study this year, building on previous phases completed in March, June, and September 2024.
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