The UAE has signed a new agreement to send the first Arab astronaut for a 180-day long mission to the International Space Station very soon.
While appreciating the youth of UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as well as the Ruler of Dubai city, tweeted on his official Twitter account, “A new project for the space sector in the UAE has been signed through an agreement to send the first Arab astronaut for a 180-day long mission to the International Space Station.”
محطة جديدة لقطاع الفضاء في دولة الامارات بتوقيع اتفاقية جديدة لإرسال أول رائد فضاء عربي لمهمة طويلة تمتد ١٨٠ يوم لمحطة الفضاء الدولية … الإمارات ستكون الدولة ال١١ في التاريخ التي ترسل مهمة طويلة الأمد للفضاء .. فخورين بشباب الإمارات 🇦🇪 pic.twitter.com/vSILefU77I
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) April 29, 2022
He further said, “The UAE will be the 11th country in history to send a long-term mission to space. Proud of the UAE youth.”
UAE has booked their spot to send an astronaut from their country to be part of the SpaceX Crew-6 mission that is set to launch in 2023 from Florida’s Kennedy Space Centre.
The deal has been signed between Axiom Space and UAE’s Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC).
Director General of Mohammed Bin Rashid Space, Salem Al Marri, tweeted on his Twitter account, “Signing a deal with Axiom Space is a major development aimed at consolidating the partnership with NASA for the 6-month mission aboard the ISS.”
He further said, “Our Emirati astronauts are highly trained for this mission; having experienced a rigorous training programme that readied them to conduct long-duration missions. Spacewalks and operating ISS systems were among several practices covered during their sessions.”
Our Emirati astronauts are highly equipped for this mission; having undergone a rigorous training programme that prepared them to conduct long-duration missions. Spacewalks and operating ISS systems were among many practices covered during their sessions. pic.twitter.com/fQEmQSDuJ7
— Salem AlMarri سالم حميد المري (@Salem_HAlMarri) April 29, 2022
Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, Hamad Obaid AlMansoori, “The first long-term mission carried out for Arab astronauts signifies the extraordinary progress that has been made by the UAE National Space Programme. This momentous endeavour has been made possible due to the result of the idea of the leadership of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).