DUBAI: The first Emirati astronaut will today embark on an eight-day trip to the International Space Station. He will become the first Arab on the International Space Station.
Hazzaa AlMansoori will be aboard the Soyuz Spacecraft, which will blast off from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan at 05.57 pm (UAE local time), powered by the FG rocket.
He will make to the trip to the station in the company of Russian commander Oleg Skripochka and NASA astronaut Jessica Meir, reports Albayan.
Skripochka and Meir will stay in space spring of 2020 while Mansoori will return to Earth on October 3.
Hazzaa AlMansoori is planned to conduct a total of sixteen scientific experiments focusing on the interaction of human body biomarkers in space compared to those on earth.
The Dubai TV channel has allocated three studios to cover the launch and the subsequent events live.
#HazzaaAlMansoori is one man, but he represents the dreams and ambitions of millions of #Arabs around the world. Be part of his incredible journey to #Space. Watch today’s historic launch LIVE on Facebook/ Instagram/ Twitter/ YouTube or https://t.co/o0CCHRLAir
— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) September 25, 2019
5:30 PM UAE Time pic.twitter.com/ViCM0eWRj7
أعلى برج في العالم يواكب على طريقته مهمة أول رائد فضاء إماراتي#برج_خليفة
— Burj Khalifa (@BurjKhalifa) September 25, 2019
The tallest building in the world #BurjKhalifa lights up for the UAE's historic launch to the International Space Station @MBRSpaceCentre pic.twitter.com/MmUH81xX7a
Hazzaa's schedule
Mission specs
- Launch: 5.57pm (UAE time) from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
- Distance to be covered: 400km
- Arrival: 12am (approximate) at International Space Station
- Hatch opening: 2am
Experiments
Hazzaa Al-Mansoori will conduct 16 scientific experiments including six that will take place on the International Space Station to study the interaction of human body biomarkers in space compared to those on earth.
Scope
- Conduct earth observation and imaging
- Study the effect of microgravity compared with earth's gravity
The effects of space travel on the human body will also be studied before and after AlMansoori's journey to the International Space Station - the first on a Middle Eastern astronaut
September 26
- Science in space experiments
- Session on HAM radio
September 27
- Time perception in microgravity
- Fluid dynamics in space experiments
- Live session at 2.30pm (UAE time)
September 28
- Science in space experiments
- Cardiovector
- Time perception in microgravity
September 29
- Tour of the International Space Station (in Arabic)
- Live session: 2.40pm to 2.57pm
September 30
- Live session: 4.14pm to 4.34pm
- Osteology
- Fluid dynamics in space experiments
- Science in space experiments
October 1
- Live session: 4.14pm to 4.34pm
- Fluid dynamics in space experiments
- Science in space experiments
October 2
Science in space experiments
Undock preparations
October 3
Undock: 11.34am
Landing back on earth: 12.58pm (UAE time)
Hazzaa's personal payload
Each astronaut is allowed to take 0.68kg of items with him on the Soyuz spacecraft.
Hazzaa will take:
- The Holy Quran
- A 100% silk UAE flag
- 30 Ghaf tree seeds
- Emirati food
- Photos of his family
- A photo of the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan meeting three American astronauts in 1976
- The latest book of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, 'Qissati'
MEET THE CREW
Hazzaa AlMansoori
DOB: December 13, 1983
Age: 35
Marital Status: Married with four children
Hometown: Born in Al Wathba, and moved with his family to Al Dhafra (previously known as Liwa) in Western Abu Dhabi.
Education: Khalifa bin Zayed Air College
Professional Qualifications: Military background. Former F-16B60 instructor pilot and a demo pilot, SOLO Demonstration pilot in F-16B60 and UAE's youngest F-16 pilot. Inspiration to become astronaut: His passion for astronomy led him to join the armed forces and later became one of the most outstanding military pilots.
Jessica Meir
DOB: July 7, 1977
Age: 42
Marital Status: Married
Hometown: Maine, USA
Education: Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Brown University, Master of Science degree in Space Studies from International Space University and Doctorate in Marine Biology (diving physiology) from Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
Professional Qualification: Worked on human psychology research at Lockheed Martin's Human Research Facility at NASA Johnson Space Center. She was also the mission control communicator to spacewalking astronauts for two space station spacewalks.
Oleg Skripockha
DOB: December 24, 1969
Age: 49
Hometown: Nevinnomyssk, Stavropol Krai, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Education: Bachelors of Mechanical Engineering in Rocket Construction from Bauman Moscow State Technical University.
Professional Qualifications: Spent 159 days in space while on Expedition 25/26 in 2010.
Sultan Al Neyadi
DOB: May 23, 1981
Marital Status: Married with four children
Hometown: Born in Umm Ghafa, 30 kilometers southeast of Al Ain, in Abu Dhabi, where he received primary and secondary education.
Educational and professional background: Bachelor's Degree of Science in Electronics and Communications Engineering from the University of Brighton in the UK, then served for the UAE Armed forces as a network security engineer. Later, got his Master's degree in IT from Griffith University in Australia, in 2008. He also earned a PHD in Information Technology (Data Leakage Prevention) and published six research papers in international websites.
Inspiration to become astronaut: Sultan loves all things space science and technology and wants to create history for the UAE
Thomas Mashburn
DOB: August 29, 1960
Hometown: North Carolina, USA
Marital Status: Married
Education: Bachelor of Science in Physics from Davidson College, Masters in Engineering Physics from University of Virginia, Masters in Medical Science from University of Texas and Doctorate of Medicine degree from Wake Forest University.
Professional Qualification: Served as flight surgeon at Johnson Space Centre, served as a flight surgeon for NASA officials who were deployed to the Gagarin Cosmonauts Training Center in Star City. Also, served as a Flight Engineer on Expedition 34/35 in 2012 and spent 161 days in space.
Sergey Ryzhikov
DOB: August 19, 1974
Hometown: Bululma, Russia SFSR, Soviet Union
Marital Status: Married
Professional Qualifications: Previously a Lieutenant Colonel in the Russian Air Force. Spent 173 days in space for Expedition 50.
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