MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
Pioneering UAE astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri safely back on Earth after voyage to the ISS
It was an odyssey that ended with a capsule careering through space at 17,500kph and re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere in a ball of flame.
There were a thousand things that could have gone wrong on Hazza Al Mansouri’s return home but, thankfully, none of them did.
The former fighter pilot and now the first Emirati in space, touched down exactly on schedule, at 2.59pm on Thursday, in remote Kazakhstan.
It was the end of a momentous mission for the father of four aboard the ISS, which orbited Earth 128 times and travelled almost five million kilometres during his eight-day trip.
It was enough to forever secure Maj Al Mansouri a place in his country’s history. He was only the third Arab to visit space, and the first in more than two decades to do so.
On Thursday it was made clear that we will not have to wait nearly as long for the fourth.
“We are not done yet, and we will never be,” Maj Al Mansouri tweeted, minutes before he departed the International Space
Station at 11.37am UAE time. The pioneer spoke of introducing a “golden era of Arab astronauts”.
“Thanks to all who worked on this great mission and supported us to achieve Zayed’s ambitions,” the astronaut said in another message. “We just began, and we will be back soon.”
It is hoped Maj Al Mansouri’s voyage will inspire a new wave of interest in science in the UAE and the wider Arab world, particularly among children. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, expressed his pride at the achievement.
“We thank Allah for the safe return of Hazza Al Mansouri, the son of the UAE, to Earth after the first space journey by an Arab astronaut to the International Space Station,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
“We are proud of this achievement and pleased with the knowledge and experience we earned. We are also optimistic of the new road we paved for our [future] generations to travel to space.”
“Praise be to God for Hazza Al Mansouri’s safe return to Earth after visiting the International Space Station,” tweeted Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
“Congratulations to the people of the UAE for this historic achievement. Zayed’s sons will fulfil our ambition to reach Mars.”
Although he carried out a series of valuable scientific experiments while in space, a nation of space-obsessed young people could prove to be Maj Al Mansouri’s most meaningful legacy.
Many schools held space days with children dressing up as astronauts.
Some even recorded video messages for their new role model, who was educated at a public school in Liwa.
One nursery child spoke of Maj Al Mansouri “jumping over the moon in a big rocket” while another described him as the man who “went to space and took photos”.
Hamad Al Mansoori, chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, said the journey would “enrich human knowledge” through its scientific work but also “pave the way for Arab youth to have new dreams and ambitions”.
“Today, we kick-start a new era in the UAE’s space sector, with the completion of a new success story for the country,” he said. “Al Mansouri ... became a role model for Arab youth, and paved the way for generations to come.”
Yousuf Al Shaibani, director general of the Space Centre, said: “We are witnessing a historic moment in the UAE with the return of the first Emirati astronaut safely back to Earth.
“The success of this mission confirms our ability to turn our dreams into reality. It also proves that we are able to revive Arab civilisation, and we believe that there are no limits to the ambitions and aspirations of Emiratis.”
Across the country, cinemas screened the voyage live. People watched nervously as Alexey Ovchinin, who had just handed over command of the ISS, guided the Soyuz MS-12 back to Earth. Nick Hague, an American, was the third person on the trip.
At every crucial juncture – the undocking of their capsule, the engagement of booster rockets, the jettisoning of other sections of the craft to prepare for re-entry and the deployment of parachutes – Cmdr Ovchinin’s voice could be heard reassuring Russian ground control that everything was exactly as it should be.
Within minutes of touchdown, viewers saw Maj Al Mansouri back on Earth. Initially appearing slightly shaken – plummeting back down to Earth has been described as comparable to being in a car crash – he was soon giving the thumbs up to the cameras and smiling broadly. He was carried for routine medical examinations, draped in a UAE flag.
After an hour, he was due to be taken back to his training base near Moscow by helicopter, where he is expected to spend the coming days fulfilling media duties, being debriefed and attending meetings about this mission.
He will then return home, where a hero’s welcome is guaranteed.