Historic UAE space mission: SpaceX astronauts lift off

Emirati astronaut Sultan al-Neyadi successfully blasted into space on Thursday, which will be the The longest space mission in the Arab world.

Cheers erupted from NASA’s Space Control Center as the spacecraft lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida shortly before 9:40 a.m. Thursday, NASA said in its live broadcast. A Falcon rocket lights up the night sky as it heads for the East Coast.

Nearly 80 spectators from the United Arab Emirates were at the launch site to watch astronaut al-Neyadi – the second Emirati to fly into space – launch into space on his mission

The capsule is now traveling at about 7,500 kilometers per hour.

UAE space mission launches. (NASA)

NASA confirmed shortly after 9:50 a.m. that the Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 were separating as planned. Shortly afterward, al-Neyadi sent a message from space on live, saying: “Thanks to my parents, my family, our leadership…to all who trained us and prepared us for this mission people.”

Half a world away in Dubai and elsewhere in the United Arab Emirates, schools and offices broadcast the launch live.

“Welcome to orbit,” SpaceX’s launch control center radioed, noting that the liftoff happened a day after four years of the capsule’s first orbital test flight. “If you enjoyed your trip, please don’t forget to give us five stars.”

The four astronauts should arrive at the International Space Station (ISS), which orbits about 250 miles (420 kilometers) above Earth, about 24 and a half hours after their early Friday morning launch.

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UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan praised the successful launch of the space mission, state news agency WAM reported on Thursday.

“The participation of Emiratis in this mission is seen as a step towards realizing our vision of ensuring a better future for future generations and strengthening their participation in building it,” he said.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, said the mission furthered the UAE’s ambitions in space.

“Our ambitions in exploring space science are limitless, and we are eager to strengthen our position in this promising field.”

Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC), said the UAE’s latest space venture will make history.

“As we explored the depths of space, we carried with us the hopes and dreams of our nation, and the determination to make history. Today, we celebrate not only the successful launch of the longest Arab space mission in history, but the vision that will inspire generations to come.” accomplish.”

“We are very grateful to our brilliant leadership whose constant support is the strength and inspiration for the team to continue to take on new challenges. Our mission through these scientific endeavors is to keep the UAE flag flying high and stand in the forefront of contributing to scientific achievement the forefront of the country.”

NASA and SpaceX give green light to Wednesday’s launch date after solving technical issues with Falcon 9 rocket Blocked Monday’s first Crew-6 launch attempt.

A Falcon 9 rocket is readied before launch on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission, which will carry a crew of four to International Space Station. (Reuters)

At issue on the ground is an ignition fluid called triethylaluminumtriethylboron (TEA-TEB), which is used to start the rocket’s Merlin engines.

A clogged filter prevents fluid from being properly filled into the necessary compartments.

Sultan al-Neyadi will be the principal astronaut on the first long-duration Arab astronaut mission. (Provided by: WAM)

“After a thorough review of the data and ground systems, both the NASA and SpaceX teams determined that a clogged ground filter was the cause. The SpaceX team replaced the filter, purged the TEA-TEB line with nitrogen, and confirmed that the line was clean. ready for the next launch attempt,” NASA said.

Crew-6 launched with two NASA astronauts, mission commander Stephen Bowen and pilot Warren Hoberg, and al-Neyadi in the UAEand Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, who will serve as mission specialist for scientific expeditions to the space station.

On Thursday, Al-Neyadi’s family, including his father and some of his six children, witnessed his ascent.

A SpaceX rocket is seen on the launch pad at launch pad 39A at sunset as preparations for the Crew-6 mission continue at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023. A Falcon 9 rocket with the company’s Dragon spacecraft on top. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission is the sixth crew rotation mission of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. (Credit: NASA)

The six-month science mission will conduct experiments ranging from growing human cells in space to controlling combustible materials in microgravity.

The launch comes after Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of electric carmaker Tesla Inc. and social media platform Twitter, began sending U.S. astronauts into orbit in May 2020, when the private rocketry business started. The mission marks NASA’s sixth long-duration ISS team aboard SpaceX. This dragon is called Endeavor.

Al-Neyadi, 41, is the second person from his country to fly into space and the first to launch from U.S. soil as part of a long-duration space station team.

Salem al-Marri, director-general of Dubai’s Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC), said long-duration space missions are “improving our understanding of space and our ability to explore and use it in the future” play a vital role.

He added: “With the successful launch of the UAE’s second manned space mission and the longest Arab space mission in history, we have demonstrated that our aspirations and will to achieve them have no limits. Congratulations to Sultan al-Neyadi and The entire team behind the mission has worked tirelessly to make this historic moment a reality. We look forward to our 180 days on the ISS.”

The UAE already has a spacecraft orbiting Mars, and a tiny rover is heading to the moon aboard a Japanese lander. Two new Emirati astronauts are training in Houston for NASA’s latest astronaut selection.

Saudi Prince Sultan bin Salman was the first Arab in space, launching in 1985 aboard the space shuttle Discovery. Two years later, Syrian cosmonaut Mohammad Faris followed him on a Russian-sponsored mission. Both spent about a week in space.

This spring, two Saudi astronauts will travel to the space station with Al-Neyadi on a short private SpaceX flight paid for by their government.

“It’s going to be very exciting, very interesting” to put three Arabs into space at the same time, he said last week. “Our district is also eager to learn more.”

He has plenty of appointments to share with his crew, especially during the Muslim month of Ramadan, which begins this month. As for observing Ramadan from orbit, he said fasting was not mandatory because it would weaken him and jeopardize his mission.

About the length of a football field, the International Space Station is the largest man-made object in space and has been operated continuously for more than 20 years by a consortium led by the United States and Russia (including Canada, Japan and 11 European countries).

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