Hazzaa Al Mansoori, Emirati Astronaut, during the press conference at Dubai Government of Media Office in Dubai. 12th November 2019. Photo: Ahmed Ramzan/ Gulf News Image Credit:

Dubai: UAE is already working on plans for its next space mission, it was announced during the first press conference of Emirati astronaut Hazzaa Al Mansoori after his historic maiden space flight in September.

Tuesdays press conference at Dubai Press Club was also addressed by Salem Al Merri, head of the UAE Astronaut Programme, and Sultan Al Neyadi, who was the back-up Emirati astronaut for UAE Mission 1 to the International Space Station (ISS).

When asked about whats next after the first UAE mission, Al Merri said were working on our plans and will soon announce it.

In October, Al Merri was quoted by SpaceNews.com as saying: Were now considering and opening up the [astronaut] selection process again and selecting one or two more [astronauts], and adding them to our first selection group.

Al Merri had also said, according to Spacenews.com, our target is that, in the next three to five years, weve started our next flight.

On Tuesday, Al Merri said training and preparation remained a major part of an astronauts life, so thats definelty what we have planned for [Al Neyadi and Al Mansoori] going forward, very in-depth training, looking for the next missions, and thats what well be working on and announcing as we start progressing.

On Tuesday, Al Mansoori, a fighter pilot, said there was a possibility of him returning to space. He explained that he had asked Al Merri, during his interview when he had applied for the mission, if the programme was sustainable.

Because as a pilot, Im changing my career, and its difficult to come back to being a pilot after this duration of being out of it. So it was my concern, is it a continuous programme; am I going to go only once or twice or three times.

And [Al Merri] said its a sustainable programme; and youre going [again] maybe in the future; it depends on your preparation and your health, Al Mansoori said.

He added that he and Al Neyadi will share our knowledge and amazing experience with everyone through outreach events, especially in the UAE and the region, focusing on their journey from selection to training, and Al Mansooris ISS mission.

So this is our next mission, until the next announcement for the next mission, and it will be announced from higher positions.

Al Neyadi, an engineer, also said in the future probably well have more missions.

Al Neyadi added: For the time being, one part of the mission has been accomplished, which is reaching space and coming back. The other part is to have an outreach, talk to the people, visit conferences and schools and universities and share the knowledge, and in the future probably well have more missions.

These kinds of missions need preparations and proper communication with counterparts like [US space agency] NASA and [Russian space agency] Roscosmos and other agencies. So I think its going to be a very exciting time in the near future.

Al Merri, who is assistant director general of Dubais Mohammad Bin Rashid Space Centre, said the UAE will in July 2020 launch its unmanned spacecraft, called Hope, to Mars. The probe, the first from the Arab world, will study the Martian atmosphere in unprecedented detail.

Also, in October 2020, Dubai will host the 71st edition of the International Astronautical Congress, marking the first time it will be held in the Arab world.

I think were lucky in the UAE, this is a golden age for space exploration, Al Merri said.

(Left to Right)Sultan Al Neyadi, Emirati Astronaut, and Hazzaa Al Mansoori, Emirati Astronaut, during the press conference at Dubai Government of Media Office in Dubai. 12th November 2019. Photo: Ahmed Ramzan/ Gulf News Image Credit:

Media representatives durinng the press conference by Salem AL Marri, Head of the UAE Astronaut Programme, Sultan Al Neyadi, Emirati Astronaut, Hazzaa Al Mansoori, Emirati Astronaut, and Saud Karmustaji, director of communications at MBRSC, at Dubai Government of Media Office in Dubai. 12th November 2019. Photo: Ahmed Ramzan/ Gulf News Image Credit:

(Left to Right)Salem AL Marri, Head of the UAE Astronaut Programme, Sultan Al Neyadi, Emirati Astronaut, Hazzaa Al Mansoori, Emirati Astronaut, and Saud Karmustaji, director of communications at MBRSC, during the press conference at Dubai Government of Media Office in Dubai. 12th November 2019. Photo: Ahmed Ramzan/ Gulf News Image Credit:

Hazzaa Al Mansoori, Emirati Astronaut, during the press conference at Dubai Government of Media Office in Dubai. 12th November 2019. Photo: Ahmed Ramzan/ Gulf News Image Credit:

More here:

UAE to reveal next space mission soon, officials say - Gulf News