MBRSC announces details of first long-duration Arab space mission
Scheduled for launch on 26th February at 11:07, the mission will be the first longduration Arab astronaut mission
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) on Thursday revealed details of the second crewed mission of the UAE Astronaut Programme to the International Space Station (ISS) at an event held at the Museum of the Future.
Scheduled for launch on 26th February at 11:07, the mission will be the first long-duration Arab astronaut mission. Sultan Alneyadi is the prime astronaut of the mission while Hazzaa Almansoori is a backup crew.
The star-studded event witnessed the unveiling of the mission logo and the announcement of details of the mission, including training, ISS operations, research experiments and the upcoming stages of the mission.
The event was atended by Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs; Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of Dubai Future Foundation; Dr Amer Ahmad Sharif, CEO of Dubai Academic Health Corporation and President of Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences; Salem Al Marri, Directorgeneral of MBRSC; Emirati astronauts Sultan Alneyadi and Hazzaa Almansoori; and other dignitaries, partners and the media.
Al Mansoori said, “Guided by the vision of our wise leadership, the UAE’S space sector has grown significantly over the past decade, with major achievements, including the Emirates Mars Mission, the Emirates Lunar Mission and the upcoming first long-duration Arab astronaut mission. As we look to the future, we are commited to building on this momentum and expanding the capabilities of our space programme and our astronauts. As part of the UAE Astronaut Programme, we have created a sustainable ecosystem that is set to further enhance our understanding of space. Moreover, from uncrewed planetary missions, we are building on the possibility of crewed missions to space and beyond.”
The mission will make the UAE the 11th country to send astronauts on a long-duration mission to the ISS as well as train and prepare them for spacewalks.
Highlighting the importance of the mission, Al Marri stated, “The country is establishing the foundations of this vital sector by providing it with qualified national talent, launching further scientific projects related to space exploration, and supporting the leadership’s economic vision. Long-duration space missions play a crucial role in advancing our understanding of space and our ability to explore and utilise it in the future.”
He added, “Five years down the line, we have not only flown the first Emirati astronaut Hazzaa Almansoori to space, but are also set to send Sultan Alneyadi, from the first batch of the UAE Astronaut Programme, into space for a period of six months. This will not only be the first long-duration space mission undertaken by our astronauts, but also the first by a non-iss partner country, which is an achievement in itself. Alneyadi’s mission is the next step in our vision for crewed missions for the UAE, which will be followed by Nora and Mohammed for future missions.”
UAE MISSION 2: Dubbed as Crew-6, the mission will launch aboard the Spacex Crew Dragon spacecrat from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’S Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with Emirati astronaut Sultan Alneyadi being designated as the Mission Specialist of the Prime Crew along with NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen (Spacecrat Commander) and Warren Hoburg (Pilot) and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev (Mission Specialist).
Crew-6 is part of Expedition 69, with Roscosmos Cosmonauts Nikolai Chub and Oleg Kononenko, and NASA astronaut Loral O’hara joining the team at later dates. Expedition 69 will potentially continue to install the final pieces of IROSA, the roll-out solar arrays on the International Space Station, in addition to conducting scientific experiments and research.
The backup for Crew-6 comprises Emirati Astronaut Hazzaa Almansoori (Mission Specialist), NASA’S Jasmin Moghbeli (Spacecrat Commander), ESA’S Andreas Mogensen (Pilot) and Roscosmos’ Konstantin Borisov (Mission Specialist).
Once onboard the ISS, Sultan will have a heavy schedule of experiments and dedicated time for live interactions with various entities, universities and schools. There will be 13 live calls and 10 ham radio interactions, and sessions for the community outreach programme with Emirates Literature Foundation, which will be allocated throughout the six months.