Stars in its eyes, UAE celebrates its first astronaut in space A crowd in Dubai erupt in cheers and applause as the first astronaut from the United Arab Emirates launched towards the International Space Station, dubbing him a national hero.\\nEmiratis and school children gathered at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre as Hazzaa al-Mansoori, 35, blasted into space accompanied by Russia's Oleg Skripochka and NASA astronaut Jessica Meir onboard a Soyuz rocket from Baikonur in Kazakhstan. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES