UAE’S astronaut to conduct series of experiments
DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates has announced the launch of a new space mission to the International Space Station that will last for six months.
Salem Almarri, Director General, MBRSC said: “With the aim of strengthening cooperation between the UAE and the USA that involves prominent institutions such as Axiom Space in the space exploration sector, we are delighted to announce this important partnership that will help us further advance our space programme. This will pave the way for future initiatives that will contribute to strengthening the UAE’S position as a leading nation in the world of space exploration.”
He continued: “The cooperation with Axiom Space and NASA is of strategic importance to us, as it will kick off long-term, scientific research studies in space. This is a breakthrough moment for space missions in the UAE and the region.”
Michael T. Suffredini, President & CEO of Axiom said: “It is our great pleasure to sign the agreement with the United Arab Emirates’ Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, marking the first time a U.S. commercial company has made such a mission possible. Axiom is proud to provide MBRSC with a flight opportunity enabling the first long-term Arab mission to the ISS.”
The planned space mission to the ISS will include an Emirati astronaut and his counterparts from the US. The team will be conducting experiments and managing the operations of the station. They will be welcomed onboard the space station by a team of Russian cosmonauts as well as American and European astronauts.
On board the ISS, the Emirati astronaut will conduct a series of complex and advanced experiments, and in depth public outreach and education programme requiring a longer stay of 180 days until September 2023. The results of his mission are expected to have significant impacts that will benefit the global space community. The results of his mission are expected to have significant impacts that will benefit the global space community.
The mission marks another important milestone for the UAE’S national space programme, where another Emirati astronaut will be sent to the ISS, which will be the longest amount of time that an Emirati or Arab astronaut has stayed in space. It comes ater the historic feat of Hazzaa Al Mansoori who reached the space station aboard the Soyuz MS15 spacecrat on 25th September, 2019.
At the end of his flight, Al Mansoori returned to Earth eight days later bringing with him important data and information obtained from several scientific experiments he conducted during his stay.