One-on-One with Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi

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Transcript

00:00Well the final test was divided into two parts, the first part was sitting for almost eight

00:19hours inside the Soyuz and the second part was doing some normal daily activity on the

00:28Russian segment of the International Space Station. We were ready for all scenarios during

00:35the exam. I wouldn't think that there was a most difficult part, everything was critical,

00:43you have to be focused, you have to be vigilant in the term, you're monitoring all these parameters,

00:51you listen to your commander in case he wants to perform one of the activities. I am a right

01:00seater who's responsible of some activities or initiating some of the equipments on board the

01:09Soyuz. Either the commander, the left seater or the right seater, they're all working as a team.

01:14We were able to spend those eight hours with, let's say, full enthusiasm and passion towards

01:25reaching the International Space Station. Luckily we were able to achieve very high

01:29marks and I'm really happy being able to achieve that.

01:33I'm really happy to be working with Commander Sergei and Flight Engineer Thomas Marshburn.

01:47They're really experts, both of them have been on board the International Space Station. I'm

01:52learning many things every day from them. They are giving me many tips throughout our training,

02:00especially when we were reaching or approaching the final exams, many valuable tips. I'm really

02:07happy to be working with them and looking forward to be maybe one day a prime member of a prime crew.

02:16We are monitoring many parameters. One major task that I was assigned to is to monitor probably the

02:30pressure inside the capsule and monitor any emergency that might occur and write down the

02:38timing, which is really helpful in terms of calculating the vital parameters for the lifetime

02:47of the Soyuz. The two weeks quarantine in Baikonur is an important time for all astronauts to be safe,

02:59to be isolated from the outer world, not to catch any illness or disease right at the last stage of

03:10the preparation. So it's a very important time. The time, although it will be basically one place,

03:17but it will be full of activities, preparations, medical monitoring and some review of the,

03:24let's say, the stages of the trip or the flight.

03:30My family is very excited. Some members will come to Baikonur on the launch pad and they will

03:38witness the launch of Hazar Mansour on the 25th of September. They're really excited,

03:44they're really happy to be able to reach this historical moment for the whole

03:51Emirates and the Arab region as well. And I'm looking forward to seeing them over there.

04:00We are ready for this big moment. We are inviting everybody in the Arab region,

04:05everybody in the UAE, to witness this historical moment when Hazar Mansouri

04:11will be busting off towards the International Space Station. So stay tuned.