Emirati pilot Shareef Al Romaithi — one of 1,000 volunteers selected worldwide — is poised to "come back to earth" after 45 days inside NASA's Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) habitat in Houston, Texas. The mission, part of HERA Campaign 7 Mission 2, launched on May 10 with Al Romaithi and three American crew members: Jason Lee, Stephanie Navarro, and Piyumi Wijesekara.
Who Is Shareef Al Romaithi?
Captain Al Romaithi, 39, is a commercial pilot with Etihad Airways who holds a doctorate in aviation from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University — making him one of the youngest people to earn that qualification. He was selected by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) as the UAE's representative for this NASA simulation mission.
What Happened Inside NASA's HERA Habitat
During the 45-day Mars simulation, the crew tackled tasks replicating Martian surface exploration: virtual-reality spacewalks across simulated Mars terrain, drone operations, hydroponic crop cultivation, and daily medical evaluations. The three-level habitat module — measuring approximately 60 square metres — replicated the confined and isolating conditions astronauts would face on a real deep-space mission, complete with a laboratory, kitchen, airlock, private sleeping quarters, a bathroom, and a flight deck.
Al Romaithi, speaking to media via a window from inside the habitat at NASA's Johnson Space Center, said he was counting down the days to the June 24 exit date. "Just like you can imagine, when living in such a rather special environment — in this house — it's only possible to miss a lot of things in life," he said in a video posted by NASA's Johnson Space Center. He added that he missed his family, friends, food from home, and flying above all else, but remained deeply committed to seeing the scientific work through.
18 Health Experiments — Six From UAE Universities
The mission conducted 18 human health studies focused on behavioral health, team dynamics, and human-system interfaces. Six experiments were developed by UAE universities, including UAE University and the American University of Sharjah, examining how the human body and mind respond physically, mentally, and psychologically to prolonged confinement in space-like conditions.
"My colleagues have been a valuable source of information and assistance — we make sure that these fascinating scientific projects are completed successfully," Al Romaithi wrote during the mission.
UAE's Second Analog Space Mission
This marks the UAE's second analog study mission. The first was mechanical engineer Saleh Al Ameri, who spent eight months inside a Russian isolation facility in 2022 as part of the Sirius 20/21 project. Al Romaithi's HERA mission builds on that legacy, extending the UAE's contribution to international deep-space readiness research.
Al Romaithi credited his years of commercial flight experience with helping him cope with the cramped living space and the psychological demands of prolonged isolation. "The importance of teamwork and communication," he noted, were central lessons from the 45-day mission.
