UAE issues special edition stamps ahead of space mission

Special postage stamps are being issued in celebration of the UAE’s historic space mission on September 25.

They feature six designs, with images of prime astronaut Hazzaa AlMansoori and his backup Sultan AlNeyadi as well as the Soyuz MS spacecraft, the International Space Station (ISS) and the mission’s logo.

The commemorative stamps will be released tomorrow through the Emirates Post Central Happiness Centres.

Commenting on the special issuance, His Excellency Abdulla M. Alashram, Acting Group CEO of Emirates Post Group said, "In 1964, the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum issued a stamp celebrating astronauts and space sciences, which demonstrates the nation’s foresight and vision.

"It is incredible that, in 55 years, this ambition has now been turned into a reality and the UAE is getting closer to achieving its goal of becoming a leader in the space industry."

Al Mansoori along with Russia's Oleg Skripochka and American Jessica Meir are scheduled to lift off to the ISS from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Space Center in Kazakhstan at 5:56 pm UAE time on Wednesday.