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After Hazzaa's mission, Mars is waiting for the UAE

Our hearts were with him the moment the space shuttle launched gloriously into space. The Soyuz rocket was making history, with the UAE's first astronaut on board.
Our eyes were locked on to the screens before us and our hearts were sending silent prayers for Hazzaa Almansoori's safe trip to the International Space Station and return back to earth.
Hazzaa's achievement is a great honour for the whole nation. Each one of us wished to be with him. Our eyes were glued to the sky waiting for live news of his mission to the ISS and arrival and landing on the surface of the earth after eight days. Hazzaa had waited for the moment to orbit our planet and see our beautiful emirates from above.
Our hopes are prayers were with him.
Our country has become the centre of the world's attention now that it has made a mark in space. September 25 2019 will be etched in memory and will be celebrated every year. It will a special date celebrated by every Arab, the day of our independence in space, when we raised the UAE flag with pride.
Who will follow after Hazzaa to space? Prince Sultan bin Salman Al Saud and the Syrian astronaut Muhammad Faris went there, too, but this experience will make the challenges even greater. Mars is waiting for the UAE which doesn't believe in the impossible.
Now that Hazzaa is back in the UAE, it is time to celebrate his achievement with family and friends.
I still remember when my co-worker came running to spread the news. "Hazza has arrived.. Hazza has arrived." Her joy was contagious and we all rejoiced.
I am sure he had missed the air of the UAE while he was away in space and yearned to back with his family and friends.
- The writer is an architect based in Abu Dhabi