Saud Abdulaziz Karmustaji Born in 1989, Saud has studied Aeronautical Science from the Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, USA — he completed his bachelor’s degree in 2012 and his master’s degree in 2014.

He is the Head of Operations Management of the UAE Astronaut Programme, in charge of steering the programme as it selects, trains and launches the first-ever batch of Emirati astronauts into space, and prepares further national cadres of astronauts for global space exploration missions. The programme is considered crucial to the success of the National Space Programme.

He is also the Head of the Soft Power Committee at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) responsible for the strategic planning and communication of the centre’s projects, initiatives, objectives, and progress to the world at large.

He has been a member of the Emirates Mars Mission’s Strategic Planning Team and has served as the Education Lead on the NanoSatellite Outreach Program (NSOP). He is also the founder of ‘TedroonX’ and co-founder of ‘AlMisbar TV’, both YouTube channels geared at bringing science and tech concepts to the general public in entertaining and engaging formats.