UAE astronaut receives Nasa's highest civilian honour

Maj Al Mansouri received the Distinguished Public Service Medal in recognition of his 'distinguished contributions during Expedition 60 aboard the International Space Station'.

Hazza Al Mansouri having breakfast aboard the International Space Station. The UAE's first astronaut received the Nasa Distinguished Public Service Medal in recognition of his service. Courtesy: Mohammed bin Rashid Space CentreShow less

UAE astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri has been awarded Nasa's highest civilian honour.

Maj Al Mansouri received the Distinguished Public Service Medal in recognition of his "contributions during Expedition 60 aboard the International Space Station".

The medal is the highest honour Nasa awards to anyone who was not a government employee at the time they performed the service. Previous recipients include physicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, who received the medal in 2004.

In September, Maj Al Mansouri became the first Emirati to be sent to space, where he spent eight days, and the first Arab to work on the ISS.

He returned home from Russia, where he had spent most of the year training for his mission, to a hero's welcome in October.

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre tweeted a picture of the certificate and medals he received.

Maj Al Mansouri was picked from 4,022 applicants for the first UAE Astronaut Programme after a series of advanced medical and psychological tests.

He recently spoke to The National about the mission, which has inspired a generation of young Emiratis.

"The first time I went to mosque, after returning, I met a couple of kids who asked me about the space mission," Maj Al Mansouri said.

“The next day I went back and was shocked by the crowds of children there waiting for me and I spent an hour explaining it all to them.”

The UAE's first astronaut, Maj Hazza Al Mansouri, takes part in a Q&A session from the International Space Station with an audience at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, Dubai, in 2019. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, talks with Emirati astronaut Maj Hazza Al Mansouri, during a live satellite feed from the International Space Station. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

The Emirati astronaut takes questions from the audience gathered at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. Chris Whiteoak / The National

An aspiring young astronaut poses in front of a picture of the first Emirati in space, Maj Hazza Al Mansouri. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A woman films the Q&A session with Maj Hazza Al Mansouri from the International Space Station. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The audience at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre are delighted to hear from Maj Hazza Al Mansouri. Chris Whiteoak / The National

An aspiring young astronaut and her family at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre event. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A young audience member celebrates the first Emirati in space. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid talks to Maj Hazza Al Mansouri. Courtesy Dubai Media Office

Emirati astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri, during a live satellite feed from the International Space Station. Courtesy Dubai Media Office

Audience members at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre event sample space food. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Emirati astronaut Maj Hazza Al Mansouri gives his audience on Earth a tour of the International Space Station. Screengrab via Youtube Live

Maj Hazza Al Mansouri demonstrates the effects of weightlessness. Screengrab via Youtube Live

Hazza Al Mansouri takes a live Q&A from space. He spent eight days on the International Space Station, in a mission from September 25 to October 3, 2019. Screengrab via Youtube Live

Emirati astronaut, Hazza Al Mansouri, takes live Q&A from space and gives a station tour. Screengrab via Youtube Live

The scene was replayed during a recent trip to Masdar Park, when he was surrounded by fans clamouring to hear more about his mission.

“Some of the kids there recognised me and I spent two hours answering all their questions,” he said.

“My wife joked ‘that’s it, we’re not going out any more’.”

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, recently launched a search for the next Emirati astronaut and urged men and women with "ambition, energy, and determination" to apply.

About 1,000 applications were received within four hours of the announcement.

Maj Al Mansouri's achievement came after he won praise from a former crew mate on the ISS.

Nasa astronaut Jessica Meir snapped a stunning picture of Abu Dhabi by night and sent a message to Maj Al Mansouri from 400 kilometres above Earth.

The American passed over the capital on board the ISS and posted the image at 3.40am on Friday.

"The very first astronaut from the United Arab Emirates launched to space this year – in the same rocket as me!" she wrote on Twitter.

"Thinking about my new colleagues and friends (@astro_hazzaa & @Astro_Alneyadi) made my view even more spectacular. Goodnight Abu Dhabi!"

Maj Al Mansouri thanked for her the message from space.

"What a fantastic view you have, my friend, I was honoured to work with you onboard the space station. Good night from the Earth."

Ms Meir and Maj Al Mansouri blasted off from Kazakhstan in September, alongside mission commander Oleg Skripochka.

The Emirati returned to Earth with another crew mate, while Ms Meir will stay on until spring 2020.