Space launch includes 1st flyer from United Arab Emirates
Posted September 25, 2019 7:00 am
BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan (AP) - An American, a Russian and the first space flyer from the United Arab Emirates blasted off Wednesday on a mission to the International Space Station.
A Russian Soyuz rocket lifted off at 6:57 p.m. (1357 GMT) from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome to lift a Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft into orbit.
The ship carrying NASA astronaut Jessica Meir, Oleg Skripochka of the Russian space agency Roscosmos and Hazzaa al-Mansoori, a military pilot from the UAE, docked at the International Space Station about six hours later.
It was the third spaceflight for Skripochka and the first for Meir and al-Mansoori, who flew to the station was on an eight-day mission under a contract between the UAE and Roscosmos.
Al-Mansoori was the first of two men chosen by the Gulf Arab nation to fly to the space station.
The trio will join two Russians, three Americans and an Italian aboard the space station. Meir and Skripochka will spend more than six months in orbit. Al-Mansoori will return to Earth next week with Russia's Alexey Ovchinin and NASA's Nick Hague.
The Soyuz-FG rocket booster with Soyuz MS-15 space ship carrying a new crew to the International Space Station, ISS, flies in clouds at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. The Russian rocket carries U.S. astronaut Jessica Meir, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka, and United Arab Emirates astronaut Hazza Almansouri. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
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The Soyuz-FG rocket booster with Soyuz MS-15 space ship carrying a new crew to the International Space Station, ISS, blasts off at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. The Russian rocket carries U.S. astronaut Jessica Meir, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka, and United Arab Emirates astronaut Hazza Almansoori. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
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United Arab Emirates astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri, centre, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka, bottom, and U.S. astronaut Jessica Meir, top, members of the main crew to the International Space Station (ISS), board the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for the launch at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. (Maxim Shipenkov/Pool Photo via AP)
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U.S. astronaut Jessica Meir, a member of the main crew to the International Space Station (ISS), boards the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for the launch at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. (Maxim Shipenkov/Pool Photo via AP)
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United Arab Emirates astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri, a member of the main crew to the International Space Station (ISS), boards the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for the launch at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. (Maxim Shipenkov/Pool Photo via AP)
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United Arab Emirates astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri, a member of the main crew to the International Space Station (ISS), boards the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for the launch at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. (Maxim Shipenkov/Pool Photo via AP)
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Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka, a member of the main crew to the International Space Station (ISS), boards the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for the launch at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. (Maxim Shipenkov/Pool Photo via AP)
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United Arab Emirates astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka, U.S. astronaut Jessica Meir, members of the main crew to the International Space Station (ISS), board the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for the launch at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. (Maxim Shipenkov/Pool Photo via AP)
The Associated Press
United Arab Emirates astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka, U.S. astronaut Jessica Meir, members of the main crew to the International Space Station (ISS), board the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for the launch at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. (Maxim Shipenkov/Pool Photo via AP)
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Russian Space Agency experts help United Arab Emirates astronaut Hazza Almansoori, member of the main crew of the expedition to the International Space Station (ISS), to sit during inspecting his space suit prior the launch of Soyuz MS-15 space ship at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
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Russian Space Agency experts help U.S. astronaut Jessica Meir, member of the main crew of the expedition to the International Space Station (ISS), to stand up after inspecting her space suit prior the launch of Soyuz MS-15 space ship at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
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U.S. astronaut Jessica Meir, member of the main crew of the expedition to the International Space Station (ISS), during an inspection of her space suit prior the launch of Soyuz MS-15 space ship at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
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United Arab Emirates astronaut Hazza Almansoori, member of the main crew of the expedition to the International Space Station (ISS), gestures prior the launch of Soyuz MS-15 space ship at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
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United Arab Emirates astronaut Hazza Almansoori, member of the main crew of the expedition to the International Space Station (ISS), waves prior the launch of Soyuz MS-15 space ship at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
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U.S. astronaut Jessica Meir, member of the main crew of the expedition to the International Space Station (ISS), waves prior the launch of Soyuz MS-15 space ship at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
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United Arab Emirates astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri, a member of the main crew to the International Space Station (ISS), gestures to his relatives from a bus prior to the launch of Soyuz-FG rocket at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
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U.S. astronaut Jessica Meir, a member of the main crew to the International Space Station (ISS), waves to her relatives from a bus prior to the launch of Soyuz-FG rocket at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
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From left, United Arab Emirates astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka, U.S. astronaut Jessica Meir, members of the main crew to the International Space Station (ISS), wave to their relatives walking to a bus prior to the launch of Soyuz-FG rocket at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
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In this photo provided by NASA, the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft is seen in the early morning hours ahead of the scheduled launch with Expedition 61 crew members Jessica Meir, of NASA, and Oleg Skripochka, of Roscosmos, and spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori, of the United Arab Emirates, early Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)
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U.S. astronaut Jessica Meir, member of the main crew to the International Space Station (ISS), waves to her relatives from a bus prior the launch of Soyuz-FG rocket at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky. Pool)
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United Arab Emirates astronaut Hazza Almansoori, member of the main crew to the International Space Station (ISS), waves to his relatives from a bus prior the launch of Soyuz-FG rocket at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky. Pool)
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People watch a live broadcast of a Russian Soyuz MS-15 space mission, that took off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, carrying Emirati Astronaut Hazzaa al-Mansoori and two other astronauts heading to the International Space Station, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
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An Emirati girls poses with an Emirates Space Agency astronaut mock-up during a live broadcast of a Russian Soyuz MS-15 space mission, that took off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, carrying Emirati Astronaut Hazzaa al-Mansoori and two other astronauts heading to the International Space Station, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
The Associated Press
People watch the launch of the Soyuz-FG rocket booster with Soyuz MS-15 space ship carrying a new crew to the International Space Station, ISS, at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. The Russian rocket carries U.S. astronaut Jessica Meir, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka, and United Arab Emirates astronaut Hazza Almansoori. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The Associated Press
The Soyuz-FG rocket booster with Soyuz MS-15 space ship carrying a new crew to the International Space Station, ISS, blasts off at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. The Russian rocket carries U.S. astronaut Jessica Meir, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka, and United Arab Emirates astronaut Hazza Almansoori. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The Associated Press
In this image taken with a slow shutter speed and released by NASA, the Soyuz MS-15 spaceship carrying a new crew to the International Space Station (ISS) streaks into the sky during liftoff at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, early Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. The Russian rocket carries U.S. astronaut Jessica Meir, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka, and United Arab Emirates astronaut Hazza Almansoori. (Bill Ingalls
The Associated Press
In this image released by NASA the Soyuz-FG rocket booster with Soyuz MS-15 spaceship carrying a new crew to the International Space Station (ISS) lifts off at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, early Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. The Russian rocket carries U.S. astronaut Jessica Meir, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka, and United Arab Emirates astronaut Hazza Almansoori. (Bill Ingalls
The Associated Press
The Soyuz-FG rocket booster with Soyuz MS-15 space ship carrying a new crew to the International Space Station, ISS, blasts off at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. The Russian rocket carries U.S. astronaut Jessica Meir, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka, and United Arab Emirates astronaut Hazza Almansoori. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The Associated Press
The Soyuz-FG rocket booster with Soyuz MS-15 space ship carrying a new crew to the International Space Station, ISS, blasts off at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. The Russian rocket carries U.S. astronaut Jessica Meir, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka, and United Arab Emirates astronaut Hazza Almansoori. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The Associated Press
The Soyuz-FG rocket booster with Soyuz MS-15 space ship carrying a new crew to the International Space Station, ISS, blasts off at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. The Russian rocket carries U.S. astronaut Jessica Meir, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka, and United Arab Emirates astronaut Hazza Almansoori. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The Associated Press
People watch the launch of the Soyuz-FG rocket booster with Soyuz MS-15 space ship carrying a new crew to the International Space Station, ISS, at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. The Russian rocket carries U.S. astronaut Jessica Meir, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka, and United Arab Emirates astronaut Hazza Almansoori. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The Associated Press
The Soyuz-FG rocket booster with Soyuz MS-15 space ship carrying a new crew to the International Space Station, ISS, blasts off at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. The Russian rocket carries U.S. astronaut Jessica Meir, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka, and United Arab Emirates astronaut Hazza Almansoori. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The Associated Press
The Soyuz-FG rocket booster with Soyuz MS-15 space ship carrying a new crew to the International Space Station, ISS, blasts off at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. The Russian rocket carries U.S. astronaut Jessica Meir, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka, and United Arab Emirates astronaut Hazza Almansoori. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The Associated Press
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