It’s less than two weeks until Hazza AlMansoori heads into space…

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai has shared a series of Tweets expressing well wishes to the first Emirati astronaut. Today, Wednesday September 11, marks two weeks until Hazza AlMansoori heads to the International Space Station.

The Crown Prince mentioned a phone call he had with the astronaut, sharing his gratitude for the new challenge Al Mansouri is about to embark. In one Tweet he said: “A historic journey to space, a new challenge and a fresh frontier – all powered by the will & ambition of the UAE… As the first Emirati astronaut prepares to embark on a journey the world shall witness, we pray for your success in serving our dear homeland.”

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Sheikh Hamdan also expressed on the call the pride both the leadership and people of the UAE feel for both former military pilot Hazza AlMansoori and back-up astronaut Sultan Al Nayadi. “We wish you great success. Keep your morale high and embrace the challenge. May Allah bless this landmark mission,” he continued.

Ahead of the launch on September 25, 2019 Hazzaa AlMansoori, his fellow crew and the back-up crew will be placed in quarantine, where they’ll have no access to the outside world for two weeks. This quarantine period is to ensure that no germs enter their ground and space facilities, and during this time the facilities and tools they use are subject to frequent sterilisation too.

The astronauts will board the Soyuz-MS 15 spacecraft around two hours ahead of take-off, which will happen from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 5.56pm, UAE time.

Hazzaa AlMansoori and his fellow astronauts are then set to return to earth on October 3.

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Images: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre