Dubai – Masaader News
HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al MAKTOUM, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, spoke to the UAE’s first astronaut Hazzaa Al Mansouri on a live call from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC). Al Mansouri is currently at the International Space Station orbiting Earth.
Today, I spoke to Hazza Al Mansouri, the first Emirati astronaut and first Arab on the International Space Station. A national achievement and a message to the youth in the arab world that nothing is impossible. pic.twitter.com/SE9JmRLy6n
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) September 27, 2019
During the live call, Sheikh Mohammed conveyed to Hazzaa Al Mansouri the best wishes of Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Sheikh Mohammed expressed his happiness at the extraordinary achievement, which has turned the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s dream a reality. His Highness said that the late Sheikh Zayed was keen to bring scientists and space experts to the UAE to discuss the latest developments in the space sector.
Sheikh Mohammed further said that the UAE’s ability to turn dreams into accomplishments and achieve the impossible distinguishes it from other countries. “The word impossible does not exist in our dictionary,” he said. “You are the UAE’s pride,” he told Hazzaa Al Mansouri. “Many Emiratis will follow in your footsteps and continue to make the UAE’s dreams a reality,” he further said.
“Everyone dreams. But we rise to the challenge and strive to realise our dreams. Our next goal is to reach Mars. My brother Mohammed bin Zayed and I firmly believe in our ability to achieve this goal. Some say this is impossible. But we say ‘impossible’ does not exist as long as there is a will,” added Sheikh Mohammed.
Sheikh Mohammed was keen to know about the progress of the scientific experiments that Al Mansouri is conducting aboard the International Space Station. The astronaut said that the experiments are progressing according to plan.
Sheikh Mohammed asked Hazzaa Al Mansouri how he felt in the first moments after boarding the spacecraft at the start of the historic journey. Al Mansouri said he was overwhelmed with pride and joy to realise Zayed’s ambition. The astronaut spoke about the awe-inspiring moment when he saw planet Earth from space and identified the location of the UAE on the planet.
Sheikh Mohammed concluded his live call with Hazzaa Al Mansouri wishing him success in his mission and a safe journey back home.
The UAE’s first astronaut expressed his gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed for their support and encouragement without which this achievement would not have been possible.
Al Mansouri stressed that the UAE’s leaders are global role models in empowering people and creating opportunities for them. Their unlimited support has been instrumental in realising the ambitions of the nation’s founding fathers. Al Mansouri expressed great pride in being the first Emirati and the first Arab to communicate with earth in Arabic from the International Space Station.
Al Mansouri also said that he is proud to be the first to carry the UAE flag into space. He expressed the wish that the experiments being conducted by him and the other astronauts will contribute to human progress.