Telecom operators Du and Etisalat showed support for the UAE's history-making voyage to space by changing their network names in honour of the event.
Phone customers across the Emirates were greeted by the slogan "1stUAEAstro" on Wednesday as Hazza Al Mansouri prepares to etch his name in the record books as the first Emirati astronaut.
ساعات قليلة تفصلنا عن انطلاق رحلة #هزاع_المنصوري 👩🚀#أول_رائد_فضاء_إماراتي إلى محطة الفضاء الدولية واحتفاءً بهذه المناسبة التاريخية تم تغيير اسم الشبكة إلى #1stUAEAstro #طموح_زايد_يعانق_الفضاء pic.twitter.com/bEvtRhY7dj
— اتصالات (@etisalat) September 25, 2019
The former fighter pilot will travel to the International Space Station in a Soyuz rocket blasting off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome shortly before 6pm, UAE time.
He will spend eight days aboard the space station, carrying out a series of experiments.
In a press conference held on the eve of the mission, Maj Al Mansouri said the launch was the culmination of a long-held vision by the UAE to venture into space.
Earlier this week, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed forces, wished Major Al Mansouri luck in his mission.
