Video: UAE’s space journey will create history, says Sheikh Mohamed
- 23 Sep 2019
Syed Shayaan Bakht, Staff Reporter
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, on Monday spoke to UAE astronauts Hazzaa Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi, who were stationed at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Hazzaa Al Mansoori, the first Emirati astronaut, is preparing for his maiden journey on Sept.25 with the Soyuz FG that will carry the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) for scientific experiments.
Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed took to Twitter and said, “I’ve spoken to Hazzaa Al Mansoori and Sultan Al Neyadi as they prepare for the space flight. The journey will see the UAE create history and will mark our entry into the world of space exploration, inspiring future generations to aim for greater glory.”
Earlier on Monday, the Russia's Soyuz-FG booster rocket with the Soyuz MS-15 spaceship that will carry new crew to the ISS was moved to the launch pad at the Russian leased Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Roscosmos State Space Corporation tweeted, “The Soyuz-FG rocket with the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft was transported to the launch complex. The day one works have begun with the rocket and space industry specialists performing final technological operations.”
“The launch is scheduled for September 25 at 13:57 UTC.”
Backup crewmember Sultan Al Neyadi arrives at the Baikonur cosmodrome. AP
Preflight tests of systems and equipment of the Soyuz-FG space rocket are carried out with interaction between the onboard and ground-based equipment being tested as well.
Following the tradition, the backup crew including Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Ryzhikov, NASA astronaut Thomas Marshburn and space flight participant Sultan Al Neyadi (UAE) watched the process.
The Soyuz FG rocket was transported on rail from the assembly building in Baikonur Cosmodrome to launch pad No. 1, in the presence of a number of officials. The first phase of the installation took 10 minutes, in which it was lifted into position.
Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad No. 1 is the same launch site where Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin travelled to space onboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft, becoming the first man in space on April 12, 1961.
The rollout procedure was also attended by Roscosmos State Corporation management, families of the crew members, space agencies and rocket and space enterprises representatives, journalists and tourists.
Roscosmos later tweets, “The Soyuz-FG carrier rocket with the Soyuz MS-15 crewed spacecraft has been installed at the Gagarin’s start.”
Russia's Soyuz-FG booster rocket with Soyuz MS-15 spaceship is transported to the launch site. AP
Photos and videos showed Soyuz MS-15 raised upright at the launch pad. The new Soyuz mission to the ISS is scheduled on Wednesday, Sept 25 with Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka, US astronaut Jessica Meir and United Arab Emirates astronaut Hazzaa Al Mansoori.
Journalists and Baikonur service members saw the service towers lift towards the Soyuz-FG booster rocket with the Soyuz MS-15 space ship.
The Soyuz FG, carrying the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft, in which Hazzaa Al Mansoori will launch to the ISS, is emblazoned with the logo of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) and the UAE flag along with the flags of Russia and America in preparation for the historic mission.
Hazzaa Al Mansoori tweeted, “The Soyuz FG rocket, carrying the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft, and our launch will be number 1912 for this type of rocket..., is decorated with UAE flag and Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre logo in preparation for the historic mission on September 25.”
The Soyuz rocket was first launched in 1966, and the launch system was developed by Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation, Energia, and built by the Research and Production Development Center of Progress Rocket space Centre in Samara, Russia.
The photo of the Soyuz FG rocket was taken from the Baikonur Cosmodrome facilities in Kazakhstan, where the three stages of the rocket are being assembled ahead of the launch.
The technical management representatives issued a certificate of readiness of the Soyuz-FG carrier rocket with the Soyuz MS-15 crewed spacecraft was all set to roll out and installed on the launch pad No. 1 (“Gagarin’s start”) at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
