UAE residents have noticed a change in their mobile networks name as a nod to the UAE’s first astronaut to head to space, Hazzaa Al Mansoori.
Simple but straightforward – mobile networks have changed their network names to ‘1stUAEAstro’ along with the accompanying mobile network.
Today, September 25, marks UAE’s historic launch towards space as the 35-year-old Emirati astronaut, who is also set to become the first Arab to visit the ISS, will stay aboard the floating laboratory for eight days. He will return on October 3.
Aboard the ISS, Al Mansoori will study the impact of microgravity. His research will be compared with the results of similar experiments to be conducted by UAE students.
“By living in the International Space Station… it will give us more knowledge and more understanding of how we can go beyond this. To go to the Moon and to Mars eventually,” Al Mansoori said at a NASA press conference in July.
Fellow Emirati Astronaut, Sultan Al Neyadi will serve as the backup for the mission as he is prepared to travel along with Russian commander Sergey Ryzhikov and NASA’s Thomas Marshburn
UAE residents can watch the live broadcast stream of the launch today via www.mbrsc.ae/astronauts and on TV, starting 4:30 p.m.
