Forget astronauts, meet the 'najmonauts': experts coin a new word for Arab space explorers

The Arabic word 'najm' translates to star and the Greek word 'naut' means sailor

Hazza Al Mansouri, shortly after arriving back on Earth. Photo: MBRSC

Hazza Al Mansouri wears an Emirati kandura on board the International Space Station. Photo: Dubai Media Office

Emirati astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri takes live Q&A from space and gives a tour of ISS. Screengrab via Youtube Live

Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid talks with Emirati astronaut, Hazza Al Mansouri, during a live satellite feed from the International Space Station. Photo: Dubai Media Office

Hazza Al Mansouri answers questions from Emirati students studying in Japan during a live session on Monday. Photo: Jaxa

One of the pictures Hazza Al Mansouri took while onboard the International Space Station. Photo: Hazza Al Mansouri

Hazza Al Mansouri having breakfast aboard the International Space Station. The UAE's first astronaut received the Nasa Distinguished Public Service Medal in recognition of his service. Photo: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, welcomes Hazza Al Mansouri to Abu Dhabi. Wam

Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court, presents a certificate to Astronaut Major Hazza Al Mansouri at Khalifa University Graduation Ceremony at Emirates Palace in 2019. Hamad Al Kaabi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

UAE astronauts Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi tell of their experiences on the UAE space mission during a press conference in Dubai on Tuesday. Pawan Singh / The National 

Maj Hazza Al Mansouri with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office 

UAE's first astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri inside the Kibo lab on the International Space Station. Courtesy: Jaxa 

 Hazza Al Mansouri was the first person from the United Arab Emirates to go into space. National Geographic 

Hazza Al Mansouri (left) and Sultan Al Neyadi carried the hopes of a nation as they prepared to venture into space. Courtesy: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre

Hazza Al Mansouri arrives at the Presidential Terminal at Abu Dhabi International Airport on Saturday. Wam

Hazza Al Mansouri is tended to by ground crews. Nasa / Youtube screengrab

Hazza Al Mansouri posted the image of the Soyuz to his Twitter page. 

An Emirati scientist and a space educator have coined a new word for Arab astronauts – najmonauts.

The Arab word "najm" translates to star and the Greek word "naut" means sailor.

It is meant to provide a unique identification for Arab astronauts, following the region's huge successes in space over the past year.

The UAE launched its mission to Mars in July, while last year, Hazza Al Mansoori became the first Emirati in space and first Arab to go to the International Space Station. Sultan Al Neyadi is a reserve astronaut and two more astronauts will join the corps in January. Egypt is also in the process of selecting its first astronaut to go to space in the next few years.

And now the pair are hoping their initiative will mean the word enters the lexicon of the region.

“The growing aspirations of the Emirates in ... space exploration and planetary research represent a prime opportunity for the Arab world to introduce to the English language a new word coined in the spirit of regional pride and identity paving the way for future endeavours,” said Lisa La Bonte, who coined the word.

Ms La Bonte is chief executive of the Arab Youth Venture Foundation – the organisation that teamed up with US space agency Nasa for Middle East education, cultural and science exchange under an International Space Act Agreement in 2009.

Emirati scientist, Dr Mejd Alsari, worked alongside Ms La Bonte to come up with the word. They are launching a website soon to promote the initiative.

Those who fly to space are commonly called astronauts, with ‘astro’ meaning star. It is unclear when exactly the term was coined. However, some believe it was inspired by the existing term "aeronaut" that had been in use since the 18th century in relation to balloonists.

Russia refers to its astronauts as cosmonauts and Chinese astronauts are called taikonauts. The prefix "taikong" means space.

"A new name for those flying in space representing Arab states, such as ‘najmonaut’, is an individualisation and a remark that they proudly represent states with an ancient history and culture, but also with new special technological possibilities,” said Dumitru Dorin Prunariu, Romania’s first cosmonaut.

"However, no matter what nation they belong to and how are they named, when they reach outer space they become messengers of the entire planet Earth."