'Our ambition remains high': Sheikh Hamdan posts message for UAE astronaut after space mission delay

The Dubai Crown Prince wrote a message of encouragement on Monday, soon after Nasa announced that the UAE's next big space mission has been delayed.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum — who joined the ground control team in Dubai during the last few minutes of the countdown — expressed his optimism in a tweet, sending well wishes to UAE astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi.

"The launch has been postponed, yet our ambitions remain high. Wishing a safe and successful mission to Emirati astronaut @Astro_Alneyadi and the entire Crew-6 team. #ZayedAmbition," he wrote.

#ZayedAmbition has been a trending topic on Twitter since morning, while preparations for the longest Arab space mission were under way.

It was a hashtag that captured the UAE's space dream — a story that began with the ambition of the nation's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre tells this story in a 68-second video:

• 'Until we meet again': UAE astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi pens touching note less than an hour before take-off