A delighted Dubai pupil enjoyed an 'out of this world' experience when a drawing she spent days perfecting was shown off from space by Hazza Al Mansouri.
Mishal Faraz, 12, from The Winchester School – Jebel Ali in Dubai, was streaming a live video of the Emirati astronaut on board the International Space Station when he held up a colourful portrait, penned by her.
Mishal was one of 10 lucky people announced as the winners of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre’s ‘Send to Space’ competition.
The centre called on UAE residents of all ages to submit an “incredible drawing, poem or a short story”, with the promise that the best entries would be sent to space alongside the UAE’s first astronaut.
"I felt honoured and elated to see the artwork I drew floating in micro-gravity, 400km up in the sky," she told The National on Monday.
“It is an out of this world feeling. Hazza, for me, is no less than my superhero.”
Her artwork depicted an Emirati astronaut waving his country’s flag on Mars, while saluting the first rulers of the UAE on Earth.
“I wanted to portray the ultimate vision of the UAE, which is to have a habitable settlement on Mars by the year 2117,” she said.
“The word impossible does not exist in the UAE and I know this vision in my drawing will come true.”
During a summer camp at her school in July, Mishal said her principal, Meenakshi Dahiya, encouraged her to participate in the competition.
After spending four days “planning, drawing and redrawing” her artwork, the Grade 8 student finally submitted her piece within hours of the competition’s deadline on July 27.
“I wasn’t sure about participating because I didn’t think my work would stand a chance among the thousands of entries, but I was told to do my best and believe in myself, just like Hazza,” she said.
With no idea that her drawing had hurtled towards the ISS at 13,000kmph with Maj Al Mansouri on September 25, Ms Faraz said she is still in shock.
“Something I drew in my bedroom is now floating around in space. Seeing it was the greatest surprise.”
Mishal tuned into the MBRSC’s Instagram story on Sunday to catch a glimpse of her younger brother who was at the centre to participate in a live broadcast with Maj Al Mansouri.
“He was there on a school trip.
"I was trying to spot him in the crowd but my heart started beating so fast when I saw my hero, Hazza, holding my drawing.”
And she said she watched the story "over and over again" just to make sure it was in fact her artwork.
Back in March, the schoolgirl was one of a handful of pupils to attend the meet and greet with the UAE’s first two astronauts, Maj Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi, at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.
Captivated by the childhood stories Maj Al Mansouri shared about his time spent staring up at the stars, Mishal said he is now in the very place he dreamed of.
“He is the pride of the nation and he has inspired me and the whole country to dream big and work hard.”
After the news of her win, a copy of Mishal's drawing has now taken pride of place in her school’s reception entrance.
