HH Sheikh Mohammed Speaks with UAE Astronaut Ahead of 6-Month Mission

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan spoke with Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi on a call to check on his preparations on the eve of his 6-month space mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

"We are delighted with you, and we invest in the likes of you," His Highness told Al Neyadi. 

"We put our trust in you," Sheikh Mohammed added.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by مركز محمد بن راشد للفضاء MBRSC (@mbrspacecentre)

Sheikh Mohammed also sent his best wishes for the mission, which is scheduled to launch today, February 27th, from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 10:45 a.m. UAE time. 

Al Neyadi is scheduled to depart from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 10:45 am UAE time on Monday with both NASA and SpaceX giving their approval for the launch, with weather conditions appearing to be stable.

Al Neyadi is one of the first two people selected from 4,022 candidates to become the first Emirati astronauts, along with fellow Hazza Al Mansouri. He is a member of Dubai's Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC).

The launch will be streamed live by MBRSC, SpaceX, and NASA.

The crew will fly aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft Endeavour, carried by the company’s Falcon 9 rocket, and will dock with the ISS on Tuesday, February 28th, at 11:30 a.m. UAE time.

The mission will make UAE only the 11th country, and the first Arab country, to send an astronaut on a long-term mission to space.

Image source: @mbrspacecentre Instagram account.