Watch: First Emirati astronaut adjusting to life in space

Now that he’s in orbit, the first Emirati in space has been developing a routine.

In his third day aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Hazza Al Mansoori began his day by communicating with the ground station at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in Dubai. During the call, he discussed his daily schedule, which each day begins at 6 a.m. GMT (10 a.m. in the UAE). Much of his day consists of helping conduct science experiments and assisting in repair work, while also engaging in outreach activities, such as calls with schoolchildren and the public.

Al Mansoori also said sleeping is interesting. As he told the MBRSC: “Some astronauts enjoy sleeping with their bodies attached to a wall in ISS, others enjoy sleeping while floating. As for me, I enjoy sleeping while floating.”

During his spare time, Al Mansoori said he enjoys looking at the Earth from the ISS, and takes pictures of the UAE as the station passes high above it.

IN PICS: The historical call that took place at the #MBRSC Control Room between @HHShkMohd , and the first Emirati astronaut, @astro_hazzaa, who appeared live from the @Space_Station pic.twitter.com/I7ZCHcYdt1

— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) September 28, 2019

The #FirstEmiratiAstronaut, Hazzaa AlMansoori @astro_hazzaa, answering questions asked by the audience at #MBRSC on a LIVE call from the International Space Station.

Watch here: https://t.co/B7Z5EFM5Se

— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) September 27, 2019

As reported by Emirates News Agency (WAM), Al Mansoori has been working on an experiment on fluidics (fluid dynamics in space) in cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA) to observe how liquids move in weightlessness. He has also begun experiments involving schools in the UAE as part of MBRSC’s Science in Space initiative. He will also perform three daily experiments to observe the impact of microgravity on seed germination rates, the growth of aquatic organisms, and the oxidisation rates of steel.

Hazzaa AlMansoori communicates with @MBRSpaceCentre’s team twice daily during his mission from the ground station in Moscow to observe the progress of the mission and ensure that Hazzaa’s daily program is followed as planned at the ISS. pic.twitter.com/FKKjCgrKrP

— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) September 27, 2019

Al Mansoori will remain aboard the ISS until October 3.

READ: First Emirati prepares to head to space on September 25

Launched in 1998, the ISS is the largest human-made object ever sent into space, weighing in at more than 400 tonnes and measuring about 73 metres long by 108 metres wide by 20 metres high.

Floating about 400 kilometres above earth, it completes an entire orbit around the planet about every 92 minutes.

It can often be seen by the naked eye from earth.