UAE Mobile Network Carriers, Etisalat and du, have once again undertaken a symbolic transformation of their mobile display names. This time, they’ve incorporated the moniker ‘Back2Earth’ into their mobile phone displays, a change that took effect on Wednesday.
The motive behind this alteration is rooted in the upcoming homecoming of UAE astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi, who has spent the last half-year aboard the International Space Station (ISS). AlNeyadi’s return is scheduled for Saturday, September 2nd, and he will be accompanied by fellow Crew-6 members: NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first occasion where the UAE’s prominent mobile networks have adapted their names to commemorate the country’s ventures into space.
Back in February of this year, both Etisalat and du temporarily rebranded as ‘UAE2Space’ to bid farewell to AlNeyadi as he embarked on his historic sojourn to the ISS. In a similar vein, in July of 2020, these network carriers exhibited their solidarity with the launch of the Hope Probe, the pioneering mission to Mars from the UAE, by modifying their display names to feature the phrase ‘UAE2Mars’.
This practice of name transformation has become a symbolic gesture of support and celebration for the UAE’s space endeavors.
The trend began in September of 2019 when they incorporated ‘1stUAEAstro’ into their service designations. This modification was a tribute to Hazzaa AlMansoori, a trailblazing UAE astronaut who achieved the distinction of being the first Emirati to venture into space.
The actions of Etisalat and du, through their dynamic display name changes, embody the national pride and enthusiasm surrounding the UAE’s accomplishments in space exploration. With each temporary alteration, they express their wholehearted support for the nation’s astronauts and their remarkable achievements. These symbolic changes, while temporary in nature, resonate deeply with the UAE’s broader vision for space exploration and scientific progress.
