Emirati astronauts train for new mission

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, met with Emirati astronauts who are preparing for a new space mission.

The Ruler of Dubai described the UAE as a major player in the global space race, and spoke about the nation’s ambitions in the sector.

His Highness urged Nora Al Matroushi, the first Emirati female astronaut, and her colleague Mohammed Al Mulla to set the highest space goals for themselves. The pair this year completed a two-year training programme at Nasa.

Both Emirati astronauts aim to replicate the achievements of Hazza Al Mansoori, the first man in space from the UAE, and Sultan Al Neyyadi, who returned to Earth last September after a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station.

The Dubai ruler called on the heads of space centres to take the entire sector to new heights. During the meeting, he was briefed on the progress of MBZ-Sat, the most advanced imaging satellite in the region.

The satellite, named after the UAE president, has been under development at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in Dubai for several years. The 800kg satellite will be delivered into orbit by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. It is learnt that the satellite is not scheduled to be launched until October at the earliest.

The chairman of the MBRSC board of directors said: “We are proud to be working on the most advanced satellite in the Arab world. Our country has great ambitions for space exploration and we are committed to continue to achieve incredible heights that will propel our country to world leadership in this field.”

Source: The National