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H-IIA rocket lifts off with KhalifaSat, the first Arabic satellite that is 100% Emirati-made. Image Credit: Twitter

Emaratis took on social media since the early hours of the morning on Monday expressing pride and happiness over the launch of KhalifaSat.

KhalifaSat was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan, on-board the H-2A rocket at 8:08 AM Dubai time.

It is first 100% Emirati-engineered and -developed satellite manufactured in the UAE at the Mohammad Bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai.

“I cannot describe the feeling I get watching my country take a huge step towards space,” Lolowa tweeted.

Hassan Sajwani, an Emirati writer tweeted: “A proud Emirati morning with KhalifaSat in the space — here’s the lift off !”

Another user under the handle @Abdulaziz.M tweeted the late Zayed's photo looking at a Satellite launcher saying: “From a dream to reality” tagging the date of the picture to be 12/3/1967 and the day of launching Khalifa Sat 29/10/2018.

Meanwhile, Hassan Khalid Sabt commented, saying:

Tariq Al Ali, famous Kuwaiti actor, posted a video on SnapChat, expressed that all the Arabs and people of Gulf are happy proud of the UAE's achievement.

“In the Year of Zayed we are all, as the people of the Gulf and Arabs proud with KhalifaSat that is launched from Japan made by Emirati engineers.”

Official have also taken to twitter with UAE State Minister for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash tweeting “The launch of Khalifa Sat satellite is a renewed indicator that the UAE is keeping up with the present, and going in the right direction. Science and technology is a priority for the UAE and the Arab world.”

 

Also in a tweet Shaikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council thanked UAE leaders for supporting such achievements saying “Thank you to the head of state Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid and Shaikh Mohamad Bin Zayed who have established the path of science and knowledge and have put their full trust in their people to make the difference. The launch of Khalifa Sat a strong incentive for all the youth."

 

 

Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of the Executive Council, have taken twitter also congratulating the team at MBR space centre and promising to go forward with other projects.

"We are all proud of the capabilities of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Space Centre, the owners of this important project which bears the name of the head of state. Our celebration during the year of Zayed takes a new dimension as the image of our founding father reaches outer space."

Adding " The Emirates Mars Project (Mars probe) and Emirates Astronauts Program are one of the greatest achievements that prove that we are in the footsteps of Zayed to serve mankind."