UAE astronaut Hazzaa AlMansoori speaks to UAE media from space

Top Stories

UAE astronaut, Hazzaa AlMansoori, calls, UAE, editors, from space, UAE media, ISS
Khaleej Times UAE Editor Mustafa Al Zarooni interacts with Hazzaa AlMansoori, the first Emirati astronaut.-Supplied photo

Dubai - Hazzaa is on his seventh day aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

by

Angel Tesorero

  • Follow us on
  • google-news
  • whatsapp
  • telegram

Published: Wed 2 Oct 2019, 4:00 PM

Last updated: Fri 4 Oct 2019, 2:08 AM

On the eve of his return to Earth, Hazzaa AlMansoori, the first Emirati in space, interacted via a radio call with editors of various media organisations in the UAE on Wednesday.
Hazzaa, who is on his seventh day aboard the International Space Station (ISS), made contact at 1.45pm with the editors and journalists who trooped to the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC).
Khaleej Times UAE editor Mustafa Al Zarooni was among those who asked questions during the 10-minute radio call with the first Emirati astronaut. Al Zarooni asked how the experiments Hazzaa conducted aboard the ISS will benefit the UAE.
Hazzaa said he conducted at least 16 experiments, including Fluidics (to observe how liquids move in weightlessness), time perception, Osteology (to study his bone condition, body composition and endocrine system at the space lab), time perception, and how to use the gyroscopic smart camera in microgravity. All those experiments will significantly contribute to UAE's next stop in Space journey, which is Mars mission.
Mona Bou Samra, editor in chief of Al Bayan newspaper, who was the first to ask question also inquired how Hazzaa's mission would impact the young generation and future UAE astronaut program.
Hazzaa replied that he is raring to share his activities at the ISS with the UAE youth. "My daily activities at the ISS were filled with various scientific experiments which I am very keen to share with everyone in the UAE, especially the youth, who are sons and daughters of Zayed," he said.
Answering a related question from another Arabic newspaper editor, Hazzaa said that space science should be widely promoted in the UAE's school curriculum. He added that the UAE has made a big leap in space studies and his mission will definitely inspire young Emiratis to study harder and become the next set of astronauts.
Another editor, meanwhile, asked how Hazzaa felt while taking pictures of Earth from the ISS. Hazzaa replied that it was an indescribable feeling having a fantastic view of Earth, and particularly of the UAE, from Space.
"Every time the ISS passed by the UAE, I really enjoyed the beautiful Arabian landscape - that was glittering at night," Hazzaa shared.
Hazzaa added that he enjoyed the company of everyone at the ISS. "I was given a warm welcome and we treated each other like family."
"It was a proud moment for me to speak in Arabic, with a distinct Emirati accenet, from the ISS," he told another editor.
Meanwhile, Sauod Karmostaji, head of operations of the UAE Astronaut Program, said the entire country is waiting for Hazzaa's return to Earth on Thursday, September 3.
Hazzaa is set to land at 2:59pm (UAE time) onboard Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft along with Nasa astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksey Ovchinin.
"This day will be the culmination of three years of work and collaborations with various international agencies. We hope that Hazzaa has a safe flight back home and we can't wait to see him again," Karmostaji told Khaleej Times.
angel@khaleejtimes.com


More news from