• On November 26 2020, an astronaut captured this photo of the northwest coastline of Saudi Arabia, home to 260 coral reef species. The image shows the Red Sea on the right, a lagoon in the middle and the coral reef on the left side. All photos courtesy of Earth Observatory at Nasa
    On November 26 2020, an astronaut captured this photo of the northwest coastline of Saudi Arabia, home to 260 coral reef species. The image shows the Red Sea on the right, a lagoon in the middle and the coral reef on the left side. All photos courtesy of Earth Observatory at Nasa
  • UAE’s first astronaut in space, Hazza Al Mansouri, captured this photo of the Emirates during his eight-day trip on the International Space Station. Courtesy: Hazza Al Mansouri Twitter
    UAE’s first astronaut in space, Hazza Al Mansouri, captured this photo of the Emirates during his eight-day trip on the International Space Station. Courtesy: Hazza Al Mansouri Twitter
  • Kuwait photographed from space during the night. The Arabian Gulf is on the top right side and the Kuwait Bay is on the left.
    Kuwait photographed from space during the night. The Arabian Gulf is on the top right side and the Kuwait Bay is on the left.
  • Thunderclouds march past the Al Qassim region of central Saudi Arabia on April 13, 2016. Nasa reported the storm clouds were likely related to the heavy rainfall and flooding in Yemen during that time.
    Thunderclouds march past the Al Qassim region of central Saudi Arabia on April 13, 2016. Nasa reported the storm clouds were likely related to the heavy rainfall and flooding in Yemen during that time.
  • An astronaut captured a photograph of the port city in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 2017.
    An astronaut captured a photograph of the port city in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 2017.
  • The Arabian Gulf photographed from the space station
    The Arabian Gulf photographed from the space station
  • A dusty atmosphere over central Saudi Arabia in 2014. The dunes in Riyadh are visible from space
    A dusty atmosphere over central Saudi Arabia in 2014. The dunes in Riyadh are visible from space
  • Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly captured an image of Dubai’s lights during the night. Courtesy: Scott Kelly Twitter
    Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly captured an image of Dubai’s lights during the night. Courtesy: Scott Kelly Twitter
  • A dust plume surging over the Red Sea and reaching Saudi Arabia in 2013. The Nile River is visible on the top left side of the image.
    A dust plume surging over the Red Sea and reaching Saudi Arabia in 2013. The Nile River is visible on the top left side of the image.
  • Turkish city of Istanbul at night
    Turkish city of Istanbul at night
  • The Pearl-Qatar, a man-made island in Doha, is visible from space. An astronaut captured this photograph in 2017
    The Pearl-Qatar, a man-made island in Doha, is visible from space. An astronaut captured this photograph in 2017
  • The city of Madinah in Saudi Arabia
    The city of Madinah in Saudi Arabia
  • The Levant region captured from space
    The Levant region captured from space
  • Es Safa, a basaltic volcanic field in southeast of Damascus, Syria, photographed from space in 2010. It is the largest volcanic field on the Arabian tectonic plate.
    Es Safa, a basaltic volcanic field in southeast of Damascus, Syria, photographed from space in 2010. It is the largest volcanic field on the Arabian tectonic plate.
  • Port of Aden in Yemen
    Port of Aden in Yemen
  • The Strait of Tiran, which separates the Gulf of Aqaba from the Red Sea, captured from space in 2013
    The Strait of Tiran, which separates the Gulf of Aqaba from the Red Sea, captured from space in 2013
  • The southeastern margin of the Empty Quarter, also known as the Ar Rub’ al Khali, in Oman. An astronaut took this photo in 2011
    The southeastern margin of the Empty Quarter, also known as the Ar Rub’ al Khali, in Oman. An astronaut took this photo in 2011
  • Lake Dukan, shaped almost like a Christmas tree, in Iraq photographed from space in 2018.
    Lake Dukan, shaped almost like a Christmas tree, in Iraq photographed from space in 2018.
  • A dust storm over the Arabian gulf in August, 2008
    A dust storm over the Arabian gulf in August, 2008
  • Damascus, Syria, photographed from space in 2013
    Damascus, Syria, photographed from space in 2013

UAE

US astronaut shares a picture of Dubai from space

Shane Kimbrough currently commands the International Space Station

Georgia Tolley
Georgia Tolley

August 12, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Read also: Perseid meteor shower 2021 — when and where to watch in the UAE tonight

A US astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) has shared a picture of Dubai.

Shane Kimbrough is on his third trip to space and commands the Space X Crew-2, which docked with the Earth-orbiting station on April 24, 2021.

He tweeted a picture of Emirates Golf Club and Dubai Airport with a fact-filled caption.

“Hello, Dubai! I spy the Emirates Golf Club, a 36-hole golf course that was the first golf course in the region and was built in 1988,” he wrote.

“The Dubai Airport is in the second photo and is the world's busiest airport by international passenger traffic.”

The current crew on the ISS includes Nasa astronaut Megan McArthur, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet. Their mission will last for six months.

In June, Mr Pesquet tweeted two pictures of the Palm taken from orbit and hinted he might visit Expo 2020 Dubai on his return to Earth.

“When you see these palm trees from space, you know you are looking at Dubai,” he wrote.

“One hundred days until the World Expo opens there. The French pavilion is set to be on point. I might be involved in some way. 😉 #MissionAlpha.”

Expo 2020 Dubai has several space-inspired installations, including an enormous SpaceX rocket model, Moon rock samples and robotic arms that will drill on Mars.

The world fair starts on October 1 and will run for six months.

A year of exciting space missions — in pictures

  • This is a year of landmark space missions. 'The National' looks at the five most exciting ones.
    This is a year of landmark space missions. 'The National' looks at the five most exciting ones.
  • The UAE's Hope probe (pictured) arrived on Mars in February. It will studied why the planet's atmosphere is being stripped away, making it impossible for life to exist.
    The UAE's Hope probe (pictured) arrived on Mars in February. It will studied why the planet's atmosphere is being stripped away, making it impossible for life to exist.
  • China's Tianwen-1 spacecraft includes a Mars orbiter and a rover. Pictured is the Long March-5 rocket that carried Tianwen-1 into space.
    China's Tianwen-1 spacecraft includes a Mars orbiter and a rover. Pictured is the Long March-5 rocket that carried Tianwen-1 into space.
  • Nasa's Perseverance rover landed on Mars on February. The return mission brought back Mars soil and rock samples. This is a computer-generated image of the rover.
    Nasa's Perseverance rover landed on Mars on February. The return mission brought back Mars soil and rock samples. This is a computer-generated image of the rover.
  • The James Webb Space Telescope is set to be the most advanced space observatory. It will orbit the Sun and will be able to see what the universe looked like millions of years ago. It is expected to be launched on October 31.
    The James Webb Space Telescope is set to be the most advanced space observatory. It will orbit the Sun and will be able to see what the universe looked like millions of years ago. It is expected to be launched on October 31.
  • Nasa will launch a return mission to the Moon. The Space Launch System, world's most powerful rocket (pictured), will carry the Orion spacecraft into space as part of the Artemis 1 mission. Orion will orbit the Moon for several days. If successful, it will pave the way for a crewed flight to the Moon in 2023. Courtesy: Nasa
    Nasa will launch a return mission to the Moon. The Space Launch System, world's most powerful rocket (pictured), will carry the Orion spacecraft into space as part of the Artemis 1 mission. Orion will orbit the Moon for several days. If successful, it will pave the way for a crewed flight to the Moon in 2023. Courtesy: Nasa
  • 2021 will also be the year of space tourism. Actor Tom Cruise, director Doug Liman and another private citizen will fly to the International Space Station as part of a private space flight with a company called Axiom. Mr Cruise and Mr Liman will film a movie there. Russia will also try to film a move in space around the same time. SpaceX is providing the ride. IMDb
    2021 will also be the year of space tourism. Actor Tom Cruise, director Doug Liman and another private citizen will fly to the International Space Station as part of a private space flight with a company called Axiom. Mr Cruise and Mr Liman will film a movie there. Russia will also try to film a move in space around the same time. SpaceX is providing the ride. IMDb
  • In July, Nasa was set to launch a mission that would deliberately crash a spacecraft (artist impression is pictured) into an asteroid's moon to change the space rock's course.
    In July, Nasa was set to launch a mission that would deliberately crash a spacecraft (artist impression is pictured) into an asteroid's moon to change the space rock's course.
Updated: August 12, 2021, 6:37 PM
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