UAE leaders congratulate Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Niadi as the first Arabs heading for the International Space Station
Abu Dhabi, Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, on Monday announced the names of the two Emirati astronauts who will be sent to the Interational Space Station (ISS).
Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Niadi were named as the first Arab astronauts to go to the habitable satellite hovering above Earth.
In tweet, Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed stated: "Just as there are no limits to space, there is no limit to our ambitions to achieve further achievements for our country. We have great confidence in our youth in carrying the banner of innovation, achievement and excellence."
مثلما لا حدود للفضاء .. فلا حدود لطموحاتنا في تحقيق مزيد من الانجازات لوطننا .. وثقتنا كبيرة في أبنائنا في حمل راية الإبداع والتفوق والتميز.— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) September 3, 2018
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, congratulated Al Mansouri and Al Niadi in a tweet.
في إنجاز عربي جديد .. نعلن اليوم عن أسماء أول رائدي فضاء عرب لمحطة الفضاء الدولية .. هزاع المنصوري وسلطان النيادي .. هزاع وسلطان يمثلان كل الشباب العربي .. ويرفعان سقف الطموحات للأجيال الإمارتية الجديدة.. ألف مبروك لشعبنا وشبابنا . pic.twitter.com/kvl2VHtw4u— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) September 3, 2018
Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid said: "It's a new Arab achievement announcing the names of the first Arab astronauts of the International Space Station. Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Niadi. Hazaa and Sultan, who represent all Arab youth, raise the ceiling of ambitions for the coming generations of the Emiratis. Congratulations to our people and our youth."
Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid emphasized the capability of the Arab youth if conditions were right saying, "Today we have the only programme to launch a Mars rover in the region, we have the capabilities to manufacture satellites, and we have Emarati astronauts, and we have 20 billion dirhams investments in the space sector. And most importantly… we have people who have no roof for their ambitions. The summary: Arabs are "cappable" if conditions are available.”
لدينا اليوم البرنامج الوحيد لاطلاق مسبار للمريخ في المنطقة، ولدينا قدرات صناعة الأقمار بنسبة ١٠٠٪ ولدينا رواد فضاء مواطنين ، ولدينا قطاع فضائي باستثمارات ٢٠ مليار درهم .. والأهم.. لدينا الانسان الذي لا سقف لطموحاته الا السماء .. الخلاصة:الانسان العربي "يستطيع" اذا توفرت له الظروف— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) September 3, 2018
Habitable satellite
The ISS is a space station, or a habitable artificial satellite, in low Earth orbit. Its first component launched into orbit in 1998, the last pressurised module was fitted in 2011, and the station is expected to operate until 2028.
Development and assembly of the station continues, with components scheduled for launch in 2018 and 2019.
The ISS is the largest human-made body in low-Earth orbit and can often be seen with the naked eye from Earth.
The ISS consists of pressurised modules, external trusses, solar arrays, and other components. ISS components have been launched by Russian Proton and Soyuz rockets, and American Space Shuttles.
The ISS serves as a microgravity and space environment research laboratory in which crew members conduct experiments in biology, human biology, physics, astronomy, meteorology, and other fields.
The station is suited for the testing of spacecraft systems and equipment required for missions to the Moon and Mars.
The ISS maintains an orbit with an altitude of between 330 and 435 km (205 and 270 mi) by means of reboost manoeuvres using the engines of the Zvezda module or visiting spacecraft. It completes 15.54 orbits per day.
