The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying Alia Al Mansoori's winning Genes in Space experiment docks at the International Space Station today.
The action starts in the live stream below at 1.30pm (UAE time) when the spacecraft makes its rendezvous with the ISS.
With help of the station's robotic arm, the installation of the capsule will be completed at about 4.30pm. Join us here.
The last few days have been a whirlwind for 15-year-old Alia, who travelled to the Kennedy Space Station in Florida to witness the launch on Monday.
The liftoff of what Nasa calls CRS12, took place at 12.31pm US time as the nine Merlin engines on the rocket ignited simultaneously with 1.7 million pounds of thrust.
After a two-day journey, the Dragon capsule is expected to dock with the help of the station's robotic arm.
After unloading, one of two American astronauts are expected to perform Alia’s experiment using samples developed by the pupil with help from Harvard University and carried out on a machine called a miniPCR, which can replicate genetic material and test it under a number of conditions.
At a date still to be confirmed it will then be returned to Earth on a Dragon where it will be evaluated by the Emirati pupil at Al Mawakeb School, and the Harvard team.
-
Alia Al Mansoori watches the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch from Kennedy Space Center. Scott A Miller for The National -
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches from Kennedy Space Center carrying Alia Al Mansoori's Genes in Space experiment. Scott A Miller for The National -
Alia Al Mansoori watches the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch from Kennedy Space Center carrying her Genes in Space experiment to the International Space Station on August 14, 2017. Scott A Miller for The National -
Alia Al Mansoori watches with her sister Maryam Al Mansoori as the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches from Kennedy Space Center. Scott A Miller for The National -
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches from Kennedy Space Center carrying Alia Al Mansoori's Genes in Space experiment. Scott A Miller for The National -
Alia Al Mansoori watches the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch from Kennedy Space Center. Scott A Miller for The National
_________________
Read more:
Dreams of Emirati teenager Alia Al Mansoori launched into space
Genes in Space winner in Florida to witness her idea take off
Young Emirati is reaching for the stars as she aims to become UAE's first astronaut
