Following his historic mission to the International Space Station, Hazza Al Mansouri has solidified himself as the first Emirati astronaut in history. And now he’s promised to help create future Emirati astronauts.
In a recent press release, along with cosmonaut Alexey Ovychinin, Al Mansouri was asked a host of questions on his galactic adventure. Al Mansouri took the conference as an opportunity to reveal he feels his mission as the first Arab on the ISS isn’t over just because he’s back home.
The former fighter pilot revealed he intends to help the UAE’s space agency and its potential astronauts move forward to even more ambitious missions.
“Now my mission is to transfer [my] knowledge and experience from my training in Star City and onboard the station to the next [astronaut] and I hope they will do better than me.”
Al Mansouri on the day of his return (October 3) shared that “We are not done yet, and we will never be.” Going on to say that his mission marks the moment where the “golden era of arab astronauts” will be brought back.
“I’m proud of completing this mission which is only the start for manned space missions,” Al Mansouri said during the press conference. “I am only the first, and queues of future astronauts will follow. I am determined to share the experience with the young generations who are interested in this vital sector for the UAE,” he added.
We are about to undock from the ISS. Another challenge is wandering around. With fear and pride, I am returning with Zayed’s ambition achieved. We are not done yet, and we will never be. To bring back the golden era of arab astronauts. pic.twitter.com/9aYUFNyi0H
— Hazzaa AlMansoori (@astro_hazzaa) 3 de outubro de 2019
His eight-day stay on the ISS makes part of a larger goal of the nation’s fledgling space agency to gain the experience and knowledge to embark on more ambitious missions. Chief among those known missions right now is the colonisation of Mars within the next century. Part of this mission is the launching of the ‘Hope Mars Mission’, the launching of a probe to the Martian orbit to gain valuable information the Red Planet. The Hope Mars Mission is slated for a 2020 launch.
During his time in space, Al Mansouri carried out experiments on time perception in space, the impact of micro-gravity environments on plant growth, and the changes to the human body when in space.
Highlights: Emirati astronaut Hazzaa AlMansoori carrying out an experiment to study time perception in microgravity.#MBRSC #MBRSpaceCentre #HazzaaAlMansoori #FirstEmiratiAstronaut #UAEInSpace #Space #UAE @astro_hazzaa pic.twitter.com/2t6eb1aOVK
— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) 1 de outubro de 2019
The Emirati national is expected back in the UAE on Saturday October 12, he has had to stay in Moscow following his return to Earth for a series of tests and experiments.
Asked what he would miss from his time on the ISS, he said: “My friends on-board the station; the [people] from international countries working together for mankind.”
