The UAE’s first two astronauts have graduated from Nasa’s basic training programme and are now eligible for space missions led by the US space agency.
Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi were awarded their Nasa astronaut pins on Sunday, which signify that they are ready for missions to the International Space Station and beyond.
Both of them will now begin training for the Nasa-SpaceX Crew-6 mission, a six-month science trip to the orbiting laboratory.
Only one of them will fly to space, while the other will be the back-up astronaut for the mission.
“It's an exceptional feeling when 20 months of assiduous training pays off,” said Dr Al Neyadi, a former IT professional who will likely be the astronaut to fly on the upcoming space mission.
“A big thank you to MBRSC (Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre and the Nasa team, my colleague Hazzaa and everyone who supported me in being awarded the Nasa astronaut pin.
“Our training continues towards achieving bigger goals.”
Maj Al Mansouri, a former fighter jet pilot for the UAE Armed Forces, became the first Emirati in space, when he launched to the ISS on a Russian Soyuz rocket in 2019 for an eight-day trip. He could be the back-up astronaut for this new mission.
Read More : https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/2022/05/09/uaes-first-two-astronauts-graduate-from-nasas-training-programme/
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