UAE has announced a new launch date and time for the six-month space mission which will feature UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi.
“The new launch date and time of the first Arab long-duration astronaut mission is scheduled for 27 February at 10:45 AM (UAE time),” the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) said via Twitter.
Sultan Al Neyadi is the prime astronaut of the mission, while Hazzaa Al Mansoori is a backup crew.
Al Neyadi also said he will share dates with colleagues on the International Space Station during Ramadan.
The planned duration of six months means Al Neyadi and colleagues on the Space X mission will be in outer space during Ramadan.
UAE astronaut mission
Al Neyadi and three fellow astronauts scheduled to fly to the International Space Station at the weekend addressed the media during a press conference at the Kennedy Space Station on Tuesday.
Asked about what he will do to represent Emirati culture in space, Neyadi hinted at a special announcement to come.
Al Neyadi said: “It is yet to be announced or shown, but definitely we have a lot of stuff going on. I want to share some Emirati food on board. I love dates. I’m going to take dates, and hopefully I’m going to share this with everybody, especially in Ramadan.
“This is a request from the commander and I cannot say no to my commander”.
The UAE astronaut went on to acknowledge the history of Arabs in space.
Identifying Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan bin Salman as the first Arab in space he also explained there had been a Syrian astronaut in 1987.
After the UAE’s Hazzaa Al Mansoori in 2019, Neyadi will become the fourth Arab in space when he blasts off to space in five days.
The UAE pioneer will be joined at the International Space Station by male and female astronauts from Saudi Arabia later in the year. It is a sign of the growing interest and importance of the Middle East in international space exploration and research.
“Our region is thirsty to learn more and I think we will be the ambassadors in these missions. Hopefully, we can come back with knowledge and share whatever we learn with everybody.”
Neyadi, a keen jiu-jitsu enthusiast also revealed he will keep up with training while on the International Space Station. He said: “I am a jiu-jitsu practitioner. I train doing jiu-jitsu. So I have a kimono that I am going to wear on board and probably do some moves”.
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