![The eight-month experiment is part of a five-year research programme by Russia’s Institute of Biomedical Problems and Nasa’s Human Research Programme.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NX2WIPM5EBH2HJXW4LBW2BJQ34.png?smart=true&auth=6856b7d3531f354c9bcb5b6ab24ecdbf8e59ad811541f8795dda7521520b4f05&width=400&height=225)
![Emirati Saleh Al Ameri is the UAE's first analogue mission astronaut.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R7UN7J2DAVDDLDTZ6RNBGJGVQY.png?smart=true&auth=83acc1bf49d2e4ae603d18ebb2408e51e19a82d020c671f22ebc62e9b9af3a69&width=400&height=225)
![Saleh Al Ameri and a fellow team member during a pre-isolation interview.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2RSGWZLHCJCR3PIH6L6UP2T5AE.png?smart=true&auth=8d35bca31b6a34b3fba9579d9a9c9301427ed11390ebfaf7fef4dce14c948f12&width=400&height=225)
![The Sirius 20/21 team prepare to enter the isolation unit n Moscow.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LIXLQ6OEKRDRXK3EX3C7EKLMPE.png?smart=true&auth=6692d6dbcf943e79f753981e06e7a73e2803e90d9c28e8b9b8d710554c3a7cfc&width=400&height=225)
![Saleh Al Ameri during an interview before the simulated space mission.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M7TGO6SP6BBD5HSH4ZZ67KEICY.png?smart=true&auth=cc5aad1500e888db12d0e5a82ed5fdd1398d36e864d61c1fb1631b6fb0bb54eb&width=400&height=225)
![The sIx-member team before the mission 'launch'.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LOVK65FDRRAVJJ2DBZEQN252NY.png?smart=true&auth=08ffcf1fe72fdd2fff0f3e5258f15b8944ba76f6ee94951e322ea357d50609bd&width=400&height=225)
![Emirati Saleh Al Ameri in the build-up to the analogue mission, which will replicate the conditions astronauts will face on a protracted journey through space.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QZ5HBYYDWVEBPKANNGECD6IXNI.png?smart=true&auth=bbf93bad96d25e95cdbe5d979d4a8eda48082e57a80bbf62206a473721b8fafa&width=400&height=225)
![The mission involves tests crucial to understanding how space flight affects the body and mind, as work towards landing human beings on the Moon, again, and Mars, gathers pace.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GRNHZ55P6VCCDMTWWPLGFW37RQ.png?smart=true&auth=ff72431e53850d6c94eb83724607fb20d597cb84016a14dc47392235fcbf9d01&width=400&height=225)
![After you ... the team prepare to enter the isolation unit.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WBJWUTGDU5DVDLZVJGSDGI7ARI.png?smart=true&auth=214afbcb330d58a4a9572b064614af7e072a50d80ddeca801fb598a692aabded&width=400&height=225)
![Saleh Al Ameri and the Sirius team who will undertake the eight-month space simulation mission.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DJ7M64BMQNFPVL6ULPQMC5LOGY.png?smart=true&auth=2a7b750c7f8f85a0ed43a5aeccd535c32b6c8b20188b2ccb36638d6c263b6546&width=400&height=225)
![The Sirius 20/21 project will measure the psychological and physiological effects on human beings living in the extreme environments that astronauts face during space travel.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/E6EZZYC3DVBSLH454L47ZIUP5Y.png?smart=true&auth=3c6278e5ea460791feb8ab87882c416644530bf6e63b8305e6f6d5b06a2e8028&width=400&height=225)
![Scientists will observe the team's behaviour using cameras installed throughout the isolation facility.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TKGYX5QJ4FAW5L5TM3ECLWKPVA.png?smart=true&auth=9d32446bae64c9e458847f076c61843b6e5cdd90026ec65c54283e94b23895b0&width=400&height=225)
![Team members wave goodbye as they enter the unit.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EMNKGPTU2ZCHBK6KJWUMURRPLE.png?smart=true&auth=15b97376c94d7cc50925aa7cd88645365f95d784cbc8e9004445436ce84ca236&width=400&height=225)
![Sirius team members enter the isolation unit in Moscow.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RIMC72CYQNGJXOOMQZFK5S2JSY.png?smart=true&auth=faf16f2b9506b642917f78d3ae592411f16dd267d8abf5e3897f22e3fe5c2314&width=400&height=225)
![See you in eight months time. The final team member enters the isolation unit.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Y3ZAFYU7HRHEDEBCCQGZID65AY.png?smart=true&auth=21c1565e340fe326d63d436e5072ae38582313304e3ac68930bd33d7e2481dea&width=400&height=225)
![The eight-month experiment is part of a five-year research programme by Russia’s Institute of Biomedical Problems and Nasa’s Human Research Programme.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NX2WIPM5EBH2HJXW4LBW2BJQ34.png?smart=true&auth=6856b7d3531f354c9bcb5b6ab24ecdbf8e59ad811541f8795dda7521520b4f05&width=400&height=225)
![Emirati Saleh Al Ameri is the UAE's first analogue mission astronaut.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R7UN7J2DAVDDLDTZ6RNBGJGVQY.png?smart=true&auth=83acc1bf49d2e4ae603d18ebb2408e51e19a82d020c671f22ebc62e9b9af3a69&width=400&height=225)
![Saleh Al Ameri and a fellow team member during a pre-isolation interview.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2RSGWZLHCJCR3PIH6L6UP2T5AE.png?smart=true&auth=8d35bca31b6a34b3fba9579d9a9c9301427ed11390ebfaf7fef4dce14c948f12&width=400&height=225)
![The Sirius 20/21 team prepare to enter the isolation unit n Moscow.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LIXLQ6OEKRDRXK3EX3C7EKLMPE.png?smart=true&auth=6692d6dbcf943e79f753981e06e7a73e2803e90d9c28e8b9b8d710554c3a7cfc&width=400&height=225)
![Saleh Al Ameri during an interview before the simulated space mission.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M7TGO6SP6BBD5HSH4ZZ67KEICY.png?smart=true&auth=cc5aad1500e888db12d0e5a82ed5fdd1398d36e864d61c1fb1631b6fb0bb54eb&width=400&height=225)
![The sIx-member team before the mission 'launch'.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LOVK65FDRRAVJJ2DBZEQN252NY.png?smart=true&auth=08ffcf1fe72fdd2fff0f3e5258f15b8944ba76f6ee94951e322ea357d50609bd&width=400&height=225)
![Emirati Saleh Al Ameri in the build-up to the analogue mission, which will replicate the conditions astronauts will face on a protracted journey through space.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QZ5HBYYDWVEBPKANNGECD6IXNI.png?smart=true&auth=bbf93bad96d25e95cdbe5d979d4a8eda48082e57a80bbf62206a473721b8fafa&width=400&height=225)
![The mission involves tests crucial to understanding how space flight affects the body and mind, as work towards landing human beings on the Moon, again, and Mars, gathers pace.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GRNHZ55P6VCCDMTWWPLGFW37RQ.png?smart=true&auth=ff72431e53850d6c94eb83724607fb20d597cb84016a14dc47392235fcbf9d01&width=400&height=225)
![After you ... the team prepare to enter the isolation unit.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WBJWUTGDU5DVDLZVJGSDGI7ARI.png?smart=true&auth=214afbcb330d58a4a9572b064614af7e072a50d80ddeca801fb598a692aabded&width=400&height=225)
![Saleh Al Ameri and the Sirius team who will undertake the eight-month space simulation mission.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DJ7M64BMQNFPVL6ULPQMC5LOGY.png?smart=true&auth=2a7b750c7f8f85a0ed43a5aeccd535c32b6c8b20188b2ccb36638d6c263b6546&width=400&height=225)
![The Sirius 20/21 project will measure the psychological and physiological effects on human beings living in the extreme environments that astronauts face during space travel.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/E6EZZYC3DVBSLH454L47ZIUP5Y.png?smart=true&auth=3c6278e5ea460791feb8ab87882c416644530bf6e63b8305e6f6d5b06a2e8028&width=400&height=225)
![Scientists will observe the team's behaviour using cameras installed throughout the isolation facility.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TKGYX5QJ4FAW5L5TM3ECLWKPVA.png?smart=true&auth=9d32446bae64c9e458847f076c61843b6e5cdd90026ec65c54283e94b23895b0&width=400&height=225)
![Team members wave goodbye as they enter the unit.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EMNKGPTU2ZCHBK6KJWUMURRPLE.png?smart=true&auth=15b97376c94d7cc50925aa7cd88645365f95d784cbc8e9004445436ce84ca236&width=400&height=225)
![Sirius team members enter the isolation unit in Moscow.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RIMC72CYQNGJXOOMQZFK5S2JSY.png?smart=true&auth=faf16f2b9506b642917f78d3ae592411f16dd267d8abf5e3897f22e3fe5c2314&width=400&height=225)
![See you in eight months time. The final team member enters the isolation unit.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Y3ZAFYU7HRHEDEBCCQGZID65AY.png?smart=true&auth=21c1565e340fe326d63d436e5072ae38582313304e3ac68930bd33d7e2481dea&width=400&height=225)
![The eight-month experiment is part of a five-year research programme by Russia’s Institute of Biomedical Problems and Nasa’s Human Research Programme.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NX2WIPM5EBH2HJXW4LBW2BJQ34.png?smart=true&auth=6856b7d3531f354c9bcb5b6ab24ecdbf8e59ad811541f8795dda7521520b4f05&width=400&height=225)
To the 'moon': Emirati begins eight months in near-isolation to mimic space travel
Saleh Al Ameri tells 'The National' of the challenges he will face during the experiment
![Sarwat Nasir](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F5a1721d1-b1fc-47a7-8c35-985395d5a5ae.png?smart=true&auth=59b598b8295381dbbb5492b5ef6a2ffa0d77e07c0a1086053fcdbee600f14b7f&width=70&height=70)
Sarwat Nasir
November 04, 2021
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November 04, 2021