In the article “NASA Selects Crew for 45-Day Simulated Mars Mission in Houston,” NASA announced its crew for their final simulated Mars mission of 2024, which includes GW Engineering and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering alumnus Obaid Alsuwaidi. As part of the four-member crew, he is carrying out scientific research and operational tasks, focusing on human health studies to help scientists further understand how spaceflight environments affect the physiological, behavioral, and psychological health of crew members.
Here is an excerpt from the article: “Obaid Alsuwaidi serves as captain engineer for the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) Ministry of Defense. In this role, he provides guidance in civil and marine engineering and addresses challenges facing the organization. Previously, Alsuwaidi worked as a project manager for the defense ministry, helping to streamline productivity, establish high standards of professionalism, and build a team of experts to serve the UAE’s needs.
Alsuwaidi earned a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Western Sydney University in Australia, followed by a master’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from George Washington University in Washington.”
Read the full article on NASA’s website. For more coverage on this mission, check out Khaleej Times, Times of India, Gulf News, and the Government of Dubai’s Media Office website.