DubaiSat-1 launched 2009

DubaiSat-1, launched July 29, 2009, was the first satellite built by Emirates Institution For Advanced Science and Technology, which later became the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center in the United Arab Emirates.  It provides images for infrastructure development, urban planning, and environment monitoring and protection.

United Arab Emirates mission to Mars launched today!

The United Arab Emirates launched their first mission to Mars, Hope, earlier today.  The mission is expected to reach Mars in February 2021.  It will study the Martian atmosphere, weather cycles and events to understand why the atmosphere is losing hydrogen and oxygen into space.

It was built by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center with the University of Colorado, Arizona State University and the University of California, Berkeley. 

If it is successful, it will be the first mission to Mars by any Arab or Muslim country.

Soyuz MS-15 lands safely today!

Soyuz MS-15 landing crew (L-R): Oleg Skripochka, Jessica Meir, Andrew Morgan

Soyuz MS-15, with members of Expedition 62, landed safely in Kazakhstan this morning.  Its crew consisted of Commander Oleg Skripochka and Jessica Meir who launched in September 2019.  They spent about 205 days in space.  Hazz Al Mansouri was aboard for the launch but returned on Soyuz MS-12 October 3.

Andrew Morgan went into space aboard Soyuz MS-13 in July 2019.  He spent about 277 days in space.

Happy birthday, UAE astronaut Hazza al-Mansouri!

Hazza Al Mansouri, born December 13, 1983 in the United Arab Emirates, is the first astronaut from that country.  He went into space aboard Soyuz MS-15 on September 25, 2019 to the International Space Station.  He returned 8 days later on Soyuz MS-12.