In the presence of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, the Emirate has unveiled an ambitious new vision for tourism and commercial spaceflight with the launch of the first astronaut training experience through a strategic partnership between Action Flight Aviation, Ras Al Khaimah’s advanced aviation and flight training operator, and BLINC Space, a global astronaut training and human spaceflight platform shaping the future of commercial astronaut readiness.

The MOU was signed during a high-profile event in presence of a distinguished delegation of spaceflight experts and investors, including Ché Bolden, Chief Executive Officer of the Charles F. Bolden Group and son of former NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden Jr., and NASA astronaut Dr. Jeanette J. Epps.

Through this partnership, the two organisations will introduce immersive, astronaut-training experiences in Ras Al Khaimah. The programme will feature a range of experiences, including high-performance aviation, G-force conditioning, aerobatic flight operations, parachute and freefall preparation, and zero‑gravity training concepts. These will be delivered as structured journeys tailored for future private astronauts, corporate groups, and visitors seeking transformative experiences.

Participants will train in controlled airborne environments designed to simulate launch and re-entry conditions, spatial disorientation, high-pressure decision-making, and the physical and mental demands of extreme human endurance.

The initiative closely aligns with Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism development strategy and supports its ambition to position the emirate as a future‑focused destination offering differentiated tourism experiences.

Brent Anderson, Chief Commercial Officer of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, said: “Ras Al Khaimah is focused on delivering distinctive experiences that push the boundaries of innovation, adventure, and premium experiential tourism. This initiative introduces a unique future‑facing experience category, supporting our vision to attract high‑value visitors and experiential explorers.”

Mac Malkawi, Founder and CEO of BLINC Space, said: “Our goal is to help shape the UAE’s future in space by empowering the next generation of explorers. This partnership is about creating an experience where people can engage directly with the future of human spaceflight. Ras Al Khaimah has the right environment, infrastructure, and ambition to emerge as a globally recognised hub for astronaut readiness, experiential training, and commercial space tourism.”

Captain Wayne A. Jack, Founder and CEO of Action Flight Aviation LLC and Vertical Advanced Flight Training, said:“Building on the advanced aviation experiences we already operate in Ras Al Khaimah, this initiative takes our offering into entirely new territory. By integrating astronaut preparation concepts into immersive tourism and training programmes, we are redefining what premium experiential travel can be. It positions Action Flight and Ras Al Khaimah as global first movers in a category that brings together tourism, aviation, human performance, and space readiness.”

Action Flight Aviation will exclusively operate all airborne training and aviation activities in Ras Al Khaimah under its GCAA Air Operator Certificate and Air Training Organisation approvals, while BLINC Space will lead astronaut programme architecture, international partnerships, curriculum integration, and global participant engagement.

Initial experiences are expected to launch in the second half of 2026 and will include astronaut-inspired G-force training, aerobatic flight experiences, aviation handling programmes, and introductory space readiness experiences. Future phases are expected to expand into integrated multi-day astronaut training packages, advanced freefall systems, fast-jet experiences, and zero-gravity parabolic flight operations.

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