MOSCOW: The emirate astronaut who will make history by becoming the first Arab on the International Space Station (ISS) said he received support from many parts of the world before his “dream” mission.
Accompanied by Russian Oleg Skripochka and NASA astronaut Jessica Meir, Hazzaa al Mansoori, 35, is due to take off into space aboard a Soyuz from Baikonur in Kazakhstan on Wednesday.
Mansoori, who will spend eight days at the ISS, will be the first UAE astronaut and the first Arab in the laboratory, but not the first Muslim.
“It is truly an honor and we are looking forward to make this mission successful and return with a lot of knowledge,” the pilot said at a press conference. In addition, he said the trip is a milestone for his country and the Arab world.
“This achievement will be historic and will continue,” he said. “The dream came true,” he said.
Mansoori said he will practice his usual prayer at the station and transmit it to the people on Earth.
“As a combat pilot I have already prayed in my plane,” he said, adding that he has experience of praying at high speed.
Mansoori also hopes to do experiments and said he will carry UAE food that he will share with his fellow travelers.
Skripochka, who flies for the first time, Meir and Hazzaa, will join the crew of six people from the station and for a short period the station will have nine astronauts.
Meir, 42, said it’s “quite an achievement” for the United Arab Emirates to have one person in space, since this program is very new.
Mansoori is due back on Earth October 3 with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin. Skripochka and Meir will stay in season until spring 2020.
