UAE’s first space flight: all the facts
DUBAI – The UAE made history on Wednesday (September 25) by sending the first Emirati to space. Here’s all you need to know.
Who is the Emirati astronaut on the space mission?
He is Hazzaa Al Mansoori, a 34-year-old fighter jet pilot.
How was he picked for the role?
Al Mansoori made the cut from 4,022 candidates who vied to be the UAE’s first astronaut when the space mission was first announced in 2017.
Where is he now?
Al Mansoori has landed at the International Space Station (ISS).
How did he get there?
Al Mansoori blasted off to the ISS on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft from the Baikonor Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Who went with him?
Russian commander Oleg Skripochka and Nasa astronaut Jessica Meir were with Al Mansoori on the Soyuz MS-15.
What were Al Mansoori’s first words from space?
"We reached safely, thank God. Hello to all my people in UAE," Al Mansoori said in Arabic.
How long will Al Mansoori be at the ISS?
He will be there for eight days.
What is he going to do there?
He will present a tour of the ISS in Arabic, explaining the sections of the station, the equipment on board and more. He will also be conducting experiments and earth observation. He will also make dinner for his crew mates with traditional Emirati food in cans.
Do you have details of his mission?
September 26: Carry out a series of science in space experiments and take part in a short radio call at 11:33pm
September 27: Conduct experiments, including time perception in microgravity and a live session at 2:30pm UAE time
September 28: Conduct science in space experiments followed by a cardiovector session to understand more about cardiology in space and the stresses placed on the body
September 29: Tour of the station in Arabic, with a live chat session between 2: 40pm and 3pm.
September 30: Live session at 4: 14pm, followed by further experiments.
October 1: Live session with young people followed by experiments involving fluids in space
October 2: Conduct science experiments and prepare for the Soyuz craft to undock
When is he returning to Earth?
He will head back to Earth on October 3, at 11:34pm. He is expected to land in one of three sites in Kazakhstan.
How will he travel back to Earth?
He will travel back to Earth aboard a Soyuz-MS 12 spacecraft.
Is anyone else travelling back to Earth with him?
Yes. Nasa astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin will be returning to Earth with Al Mansoori to wrap up a mission of more than 200 days on October 3.
What about Meir and Skripochka?
They will spend more than six months on the station.
How many people are on the ISS now?
There are now nine people onboard the ISS, including Al Mansoori, Skripochka and Meir. They are joining ISS Commander Alexey Ovchinin, NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Andrew Morgan and Christina Koch, ESA Astronaut Luca Parmitano and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov. This is the first time in four years that the crew will be more than six people.
How many people can the ISS accommodate?
The station's maximum capacity is 12 astronauts.
What is next for the UAE after this?
The next stop is Mars via the Hope probe, which is designed by our young people with competency, said His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.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
Comments
Leave a Comment