Soyuz carrying first Emirati astronaut docks at ISS (Video)

The first Emirati astronaut blasted off to space on Wednesday evening and was heading towards the International Space Station at 13,000kph as his proud his country looked on.

Major Hazza Al Mansouri made history as he climbed the steps of the Soyuz rocket, giving a final wave to relatives and television crews before a 5.57pm take-off from Baikonur, Kazakhstan.

He and fellow astronauts, Russian commander Oleg Skripochka and Nasa’s Jessica Meir, reached the ISS at 11.42pm. A series of checks that take up to two hours will be carried out before the astronauts can disembark the Soyuz and join the six astronauts already at the ISS.

The Soyuz spacecraft carrying the UAE's first astronaut successfully made contact with the International Space Station at 11.42pm UAE time - three minutes ahead of schedule.

Three new crew members are now docked to the ISS, which is hovering off the coast of Chile. 

Several checks will now be carried out before the hatch can be opened to allow the three astronauts aboard the ISS. These checks will take up to two hours.

The Soyuz connects to the ISS with eight hooks.

First, the ISS crew knocks on the hatch of the Soyuz to let them know they are there - and the Soyuz crew knocks back.

A thorough pressure check for leaks then takes place - this can take up to two hours.

Finally, the hatch can be opened and the Soyuz astronauts helped from their ship into the space station. This can take another 45 minutes to an hour.

It will likely be around 1am - 2 am before Maj Al Mansoori is safely inside the ISS.

"We are feeling great. We are in very good spirits and we are ready to continue" is the message from inside the Soyuz. 

On 2.06 am Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft final hatch opens, Emirati astronaut Hazzaa AlMansoori and two other astronauts emerge. The MS-15 crew make their way into the ISS

The National