UAE astronaut and Minister of Youth, H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Neyadi, gives remarks during an event celebrating UAE-US collaboration in space, Friday, March 8, 2024, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

UAE Ambassador to the US and Minister of State, His Excellency Yousef Al Otaib and others listen as UAE astronaut and Minister of Youth, H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Neyadi, gives remarks during an event celebrating UAE-US collaboration in space, Friday, March 8, 2024, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Backup spaceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates is seen during a press conference, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019 at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates, Expedition 61 cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Jessica Meir of NASA will launch September 25th on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates and backup spaceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi take a photograph a few hours ahead of Almansoori’s launch on a Soyuz rocket with Expedition 61 crewmembers Jessica Meir of NASA and Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Meir, Skripochka, and Almansoori will launch on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/GCTC/Irina Spector)

UAE astronaut and Minister of Youth, H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Neyadi, left, Director General, Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre Salem AlMarri, and NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free, right, are seen during an event celebrating UAE-US collaboration in space, Friday, March 8, 2024, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

UAE Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for Advanced Science and Technology, Omran Sharaf, left, NASA associate administrator Jim Free, National Space Council Executive Secretary Chirag Parikh, NASA associate administrator for International and Interagency Relations Karen Feldstein, Director General, UAE Space Agency Salem Al Qubaisi, UAE Ambassador to the US and Minister of State His Excellency Yousef Al Otaib, UAE astronaut and Minister of Youth, H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Neyadi, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, Director General, Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre Salem AlMarri, and UAE astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri, right, pose for a group photograph during an event celebrating UAE-US collaboration in space, Friday, March 8, 2024, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Backup spaceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates, left, and Expedition 61 backup crewmembers Sergei Ryzhikov of Roscosmos and Thomas Marshburn of NASA, pose for a photograph as the Soyuz rocket is rolled out by train to the launch pad, Monday, Sept. 23, 2019 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 61 crewmembers Jessica Meir of NASA and Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos, and spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates will launch September 25th on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates , left, Expedition 61 prime crew members Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Jessica Meir of NASA, are seen with backup crew members spaceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates, Sergei Ryzhikov of Roscosmos and Thomas Marshburn of NASA, during the State Commission meeting to approve the crew's Soyuz launch to the International Space Station, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019 at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Meir, Skripochka and Almansoori will launch September 25th on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates, left, Expedition 61 prime crewmembers Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Jessica Meir of NASA, are seen with backup crew members paceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates, Sergei Ryzhikov of Roscosmos and Thomas Marshburn of NASA at the conclusion of a press conference, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019 at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Meir, Skripochka, and Almansoori will launch September 25th on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

A guest takes a selfie with backup spaceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates, left, and Expedition 61 backup crewmembers Sergei Ryzhikov of Roscosmos and Thomas Marshburn of NASA, as the Soyuz rocket is rolled out by train to the launch pad, Monday, Sept. 23, 2019 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 61 crewmembers Jessica Meir of NASA and Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos, and spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates will launch September 25th on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates, left, Expedition 61 prime crewmembers Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Jessica Meir of NASA, are seen with backup crew members paceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates, Sergei Ryzhikov of Roscosmos and Thomas Marshburn of NASA at the conclusion of a press conference, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019 at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Meir, Skripochka, and Almansoori will launch September 25th on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

In the Integration Building at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, backup spaceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates (left) and backup Expedition 61 crewmates Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos (center) and Tom Marshburn of NASA (right) pose for pictures Sept. 11 in front of the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft. They are the backups to the prime crew, spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates and Expedition 61 crewmembers Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Jessica Meir of NASA, who will launch Sept. 25 on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome for a mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Victor Zelentsov

In the Integration Building at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, backup spaceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates (left) and backup Expedition 61 crewmates Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos (center) and Tom Marshburn of NASA (right) pose for pictures Sept. 11 in front of the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft. They are the backups to the prime crew, spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates and Expedition 61 crewmembers Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Jessica Meir of NASA, who will launch Sept. 25 on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome for a mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Victor Zelentsov

jsc2019e043007 (June 7, 2019) --- (From left) Backup Roscosmos spaceflight participant Sultan al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates and backup Expedition 61-62 crewmembers cosmonaut Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos and NASA astronaut Thomas Marshburn pose for a crew portrait at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia.

jsc2019e051817 - At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, backup spaceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates listens to a reporter’s question Aug. 29 during the crew’s qualification exams. Al-Neyadi is one of the backups to the prime crew, spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates and Expedition 61 crewmembers Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Jessica Meir of NASA, who will launch Sept. 25 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for a mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Beth Weissinger.

jsc2019e052152 - At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, prime spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates (left) and his backup, Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates (right) pose for pictures Sept. 5 during a pre-flight news conference. Almansoori will launch with Expedition 61 crewmembers Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Jessica Meir of NASA Sept. 25 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for a mission on the International Space Station...Credit/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

jsc2019e052907 - At the Baikonur Museum in the town of Baikonur, Kazakhstan, the backup crewmembers for the next launch to the International Space Station discuss the workings of a Soyuz launch pad Sept. 12 with a museum official during a traditional pre-launch tour. Spaceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates (left), Tom Marshburn of NASA (center) and Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos (right) are the backups to the prime Expedition 61 crew, Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Jessica Meir of NASA and spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates, who will launch Sept. 25 on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for a mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov.

jsc2019e052906 - In the town of Baikonur, Kazakhstan, the backup crewmembers for the next launch to the International Space Station pose for pictures Sept. 12 in front of a statue of Sergei Korolev, the Russian great designer, as part of traditional pre-launch activities. Tom Marshburn of NASA (left), Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos (center) and spaceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates are the backups to the prime Expedition 61 crew, Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Jessica Meir of NASA and spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates, who will launch Sept. 25 on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for a mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov.

jsc2019e052903 - At their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, the backup crewmembers for the next launch to the International Space Station meet with local Kazakh officials Sept. 12 as part of traditional pre-launch activities. On the right are backup spaceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates, Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos and Tom Marshburn of NASA. They are the backups to the prime Expedition 61 crew, Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Jessica Meir of NASA and spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates, who will launch Sept. 25 on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for a mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov.

jsc2019e052243 - With St. Basil’s Cathedral serving as a backdrop, the next crew to launch to the International Space Station and their backups walk through Red Square in Moscow Sept. 5 as part of traditional pre-launch activities. From right to left are Expedition 61 crewmembers Jessica Meir of NASA and Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos, spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates and backups, Tom Marshburn of NASA and Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates. Meir, Skripochka and Almansoori will launch Sept. 25 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for a mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

jsc2019e052235 - Inside the grounds of the Kremlin in Moscow, the prime and backup crewmembers for the next launch to the International Space Station pose for pictures in front of the Tsar Cannon Sept. 5 as part of pre-flight activities. From left to right are the backup crewmembers, Tom Marshburn of NASA, Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos and spaceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates and the prime crewmembers, spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates, Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Jessica Meir of NASA. Meir, Skripochka and Almansoori will launch Sept. 25 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for a mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

jsc2019e051815 - At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, the backups to the next crew to launch to the International Space Station posed for pictures Aug. 29 during the first day of crew qualification exams. From left to right are backup spaceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates, Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos and Tom Marshburn of NASA. They are the backups to the prime crew, spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates and Expedition 61 crewmembers Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Jessica Meir of NASA, who will launch Sept. 25 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft...NASA/Beth Weissinger.

jsc2019e052900 - At their Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, the prime and backup crewmembers for the next launch to the International Space Station attend flag-raising ceremonies Sept. 12. From left to right are the prime crewmembers, Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates and Expedition 61 crewmembers Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Jessica Meir of NASA and their backups, Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates, Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos and Tom Marshburn of NASA. Almansoori, Skripochka and Meir will launch Sept. 25 on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for a mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov.

jsc2019e052237 - Inside the grounds of the Kremlin in Moscow, the prime and backup crewmembers for the next launch to the International Space Station pose for pictures Sept. 5 as part of pre-flight activities. From left to right are the prime crewmembers, spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates and Expedition 61 crewmembers Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Jessica Meir of NASA, and their backups, Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates, Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos and Tom Marshburn of NASA. Meir, Skripochka and Almansoori will launch Sept. 25 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for a mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

jsc2019e052745 - At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 61 crewmember Jessica Meir of NASA (left) chats with backup spaceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates (center) ad prime spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates (right) Sept. 10 before departing for their launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Meir, Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Almansoori will launch on Sept. 25 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for a mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Beth Weissinger

jsc2019e053741 - At the Baikonur Cosmodrome Museum in Kazakhstan, the prime and backup crewmembers for the next launch to the International Space Station display a flag bearing the insignia of their Soyuz mission Sept. 20 during pre-launch activities. From left to right are the prime crew, spaceflight participant Hazzaa ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates and Expedition 61 crewmembers Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Jessica Meir of NASA and backup crewmembers Tom Marshburn of NASA, Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos and Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates. Meir, Skripochka and Almansoori will launch Sept. 25 on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for a mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov

jsc2019e052904 - In the town of Baikonur, Kazakhstan, the backup crewmembers for the next launch to the International Space Station pose for pictures Sept. 12 in front of a statue of Yuri Gagarin, the first human to fly in space as part of traditional pre-launch activities. Backup spaceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates (left), Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos (center) and Tom Marshburn of NASA (right) are the backups to the prime Expedition 61 crew, Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Jessica Meir of NASA and spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates, who will launch Sept. 25 on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for a mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov.

jsc2019e052236 - With St. Basil’s Cathedral serving as a backdrop, the next crew to launch to the International Space Station and their backups walk through Red Square in Moscow Sept. 5 as part of traditional pre-launch activities. From right to left are Expedition 61 crewmembers Jessica Meir of NASA and Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos, spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates and backups, Tom Marshburn of NASA, Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates and Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos. Meir, Skripochka and Almansoori will launch Sept. 25 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for a mission on the International Space Station...Andrey Shelepin/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

jsc2019e051819 - At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, the backups to the next crew to launch to the International Space Station report for duty Aug. 29 during the first day of crew qualification exams. From left to right are backup spaceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates, Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos and Tom Marshburn of NASA. They are the backups to the prime crew, spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates and Expedition 61 crewmembers Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Jessica Meir of NASA, who will launch Sept. 25 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft...NASA/Beth Weissinger.

jsc2019e053725 - At the Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates (third from left) plants a tree in his name Sept. 18 as part of traditional pre-launch activities. Assisting him is backup spaceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates. Looking on from left to right are backup Expedition 61 crewmembers Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos and Tom Marshburn of NASA and the prime crewmembers, Jessica Meir of NASA and Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos, who along with Almansoori, will launch Sept. 25 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for a mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov

jsc2019e052744 - At the airport in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, backup crewmembers Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates (left) who is a spaceflight participant and Expedition 61 backups Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos (center) and Tom Marshburn of NASA (right) report to Russian space officials Sept. 10 upon their arrival at their launch site. They are the backups to the prime crew, spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates and Expedition 61 crewmembers Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Jessica Meir of NASA, who will launch on Sept. 25 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for a mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov

jsc2019e052908 - At the Baikonur Museum in the town of Baikonur, Kazakhstan, the backup crewmembers for the next launch to the International Space Station enjoy an afternoon cup of tea Sept. 12 in traditional Kazakh garb during a pre-launch tour. Spaceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates (left), Tom Marshburn of NASA (center) and Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos (right) are the backups to the prime Expedition 61 crew, Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Jessica Meir of NASA and spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates, who will launch Sept. 25 on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for a mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov.

jsc2019e053734 - At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the backups to the next crew to launch to the International Space Station pose for pictures Sept. 20 in front of the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft. From left to right are backup spaceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates and backup Expedition 61 crewmembers Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos and Tom Marshburn of NASA. They are the backups to the prime crew, Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates, Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Jessica Meir of NASA, who will launch Sept. 25 on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for a mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov

jsc2019e052157 - At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 61 backup crewmembers Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos (left), Tom Marshburn of NASA (center) and Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates (right) answer reporters’ questions Sept. 5 as part of a pre-flight news conference. They are the backups to the prime crewmembers, Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos, Jessica Meir of NASA and Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates, who will launch Sept. 25 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for a mission on the International Space Station...Credit/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

jsc2019e053735 - At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, backup Expedition 61 crewmember Tom Marshburn of NASA poses for pictures Sept. 20 as he prepares to inspect the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft in a final fit check activity. Marshburn, backup spaceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates and backup Expedition 61 crewmember Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos are the backups to the prime crew, Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates, Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Jessica Meir of NASA, who will launch Sept. 25 on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for a mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov

jsc2019e052890 - In the Integration Building at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the prime and backup crewmembers for the next launch to the International Space Station pose for pictures Sept. 11. In the front row from left to right are the prime crewmembers, spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates and Expedition 61 crewmembers Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Jessica Meir of NASA. In the back row are their backups. From left to right are spaceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates, Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos and Tom Marshburn of NASA. Almansoori, Skripochka and Meir will launch Sept. 25 on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome for a mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov.

jsc2019e051818 - At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 61 backup crewmember Tom Marshburn of NASA signs in Aug. 29 for the first day of crew qualification exams. Looking on are the other backups, spaceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates and Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos. They are the backups to the prime crew, spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates and Expedition 61 crewmembers Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Jessica Meir of NASA, who will launch Sept. 25 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for a mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Beth Weissinger.

jsc2019e052905 - In the town of Baikonur, Kazakhstan, the backup crewmembers for the next launch to the International Space Station pay tribute Sept. 12 at a statue of Sergei Korolev, the Russian great designer, as part of traditional pre-launch activities. Backup spaceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates (left), Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos (center) and Tom Marshburn of NASA (right) are the backups to the prime Expedition 61 crew, Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Jessica Meir of NASA and spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates, who will launch Sept. 25 on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for a mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov.

jsc2019e053718 - At the Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, the backups to the next crew to launch to the International Space Station practices rendezvous techniques Sept. 18 as part of pre-launch training. Backup spaceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates (left) and crewmates Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos (center) and Tom Marshburn of NASA (right) will back up the prime crew, spaceflight participant Hazzaa ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates, Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Jessica Meir of NASA, who are set to launch Sept. 25 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for a mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov

jsc2019e053740 - At the Baikonur Cosmodrome Museum in Kazakhstan, the prime and backup crewmembers for the next launch to the International Space Station receive a briefing Sept. 20 on the flight path of the Soyuz MS-15 rocket during pre-launch activities. From left to right are prime spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates, backup Expedition 61 crewmember Tom Marshburn of NASA, prime Expedition 61 crewmember Jessica Meir of NASA and backup spaceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates. Meir, Almansoori and Expedition 61 crewmember Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos will launch Sept. 25 on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for a mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov

jsc2019e053728 - At the Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, the Expedition 61 prime and backup crewmembers and spaceflight participants pose for pictures Sept. 18 around a Soyuz rocket model as part of pre-launch activities. From left to right are the prime crewmembers, spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates and Expedition 61 crewmembers Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Jessica Meir of NASA, and Expedition 61 backup crewmembers Tom Marshburn of NASA and Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos and backup spaceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates. Meir, Skripochka and Almansoori will launch Sept. 25 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for a mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov

jsc2019e053744 - At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the prime and backup crewmembers for the next launch to the International Space Station pose for pictures Sept. 20 in front of the cottage in which Yuri Gagarin slept on the eve of his launch April 12, 1961 to become the first human to fly in space. From left to right are Expedition 61 backup crewmembers Tom Marshburn of NASA and Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos and backup spaceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates and the prime crew, spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates and Expedition 61 crewmembers Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Jessica Meir of NASA, who will launch Sept. 25 on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for a mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov

jsc2019e053742 - At the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the prime and backup crewmembers for the next launch to the International Space Station pose for pictures Sept. 20 in front of the cottage in which the iconic Russian space designer, Sergei Korolev, slept in on the eve of Yuri Gagarin’s launch April 12, 1961 to become the first human to fly in space. From left to right are Expedition 61 backup crewmembers Tom Marshburn of NASA and Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos and backup spaceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates and the prime crew, spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates and Expedition 61 crewmembers Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos and Jessica Meir of NASA, who will launch Sept. 25 on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for a mission on the International Space Station...NASA/Victor Zelentsov

jsc2019e052239 - At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 61 crewmember Jessica Meir of NASA signs a commemorative book in the Gagarin Museum Sept. 5 as part of pre-launch activities. Looking on in the front row are prime crewmates, spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates (left) and Expedition 61 Soyuz commander Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos (center). In the back row are the backups, spaceflight participant Sultan Al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates, Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos and Tom Marshburn of NASA. Meir, Skripochka and Almansoori will launch Sept. 25 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft for a mission on the International Space Station...Irina Spector/Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, left, Speaks with UAE astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri, and UAE astronaut and Minister of Youth, H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Neyad, right, during an event celebrating UAE-US collaboration in space, Friday, March 8, 2024, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates, lower left, and Expedition 61 astronaut Jessica Meir of NASA wait to have their Sokol suits pressure checked a few hours ahead of their launch on a Soyuz rocket with Expedition 61 cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Meir, Skripochka, and Almansoori will launch on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Russian Orthodox Priest Father Sergei blesses the Expedition 61 prime and backup crews in the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to the crew departing for launch on a Soyuz rocket with Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 61 crewmembers Jessica Meir of NASA and Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos, and spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates will launch later in the day on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)