First Astronaut of the Islamic country being sent into space
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DUBAI - The United Arab Emirates is about to send its first astronaut to space. That is a step in a budding, ambitious space program for an oil-rich country the size of Maine along the southern side of Persian Gulf.
Next year, it plans to send a robotic spacecraft to Mars, and its leaders talk of colonizing the red planet a century from now link, NYT has reported.
Emirati officials hope that space will inspire and train a generation of engineers and scientists who can help prepare the country for a post-oil future.
Liftoff is 9:57 a.m. Eastern time. NASA Television link will broadcast coverage of the launch beginning at 9 a.m. Three astronauts will travel from a spaceport in Kazakhstan in a Russian Soyuz capsule, the only spacecraft on Earth currently capable of trips to the International Space Station.
The Soyuz will make a quick six-hour trip to the space station, and NASA will also cover its scheduled 3:45 p.m. arrival.