Montegrappa, Italy's oldest manufacturer of luxury writing instruments, has launched a unique fountain pen commissioned for The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, celebrating Hazzaa AlMansoori, the first Emirati astronaut in space.

On September 25, AlMansoori will be launched to the International Space Station, making him the first Emirati in space. The project is being managed and executed by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC). MBRSC is also responsible for the development of various projects including the UAE Astronaut Programme and the development of the Mars 2117 vision to build a human colony on Mars.

After undergoing rigorous training to prepare for this mission, AlMansoori was selected from thousands of applicants to become the UAE's first astronaut in space, taking a leap into the future, whilst writing a new chapter in the history of the UAE. AlMansoori will be accompanied by his backup Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi.

Montegrappa’s pen, shaped in the form of a rocket, features the UAE flag on the barrel, the logo of MBRSC on the cap and a portrait of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on a solid gold nib. The pen was presented to Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre for a display to commemorate this special event, after being on display at the Montegrappa boutique in the UAE throughout the month of July 2019.

“This unique pen was made to celebrate the historic feat and is a symbolic representation of this mission and the forward-thinking vision of the leaders of this country,” said Charles Nahhas, Montegrappa’s Middle East Distributor.

He continued: “We are pleased to have the opportunity to present this unique writing instrument on this momentous occasion.”

While this unique pen is not for sale, Montegrappa has issued a limited edition of 53 pens in solid 18k gold and titanium commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Moon Landing (1969 - 2019), and 473 pens in resin and sterling silver. The Moon Landing Collection is based on the design of the Saturn V rocket which carried the original 1969 Apollo 11 mission, and is presented in an enclosure in the form of an Apollo 11 capsule in a special collector’s display case.

Montegrappa was founded in 1912 and operates, to this day, from the same historic building at the foot of the Monte Grappa mountain in North-East Italy where Italians heroically defended their country during two world wars. Today, Montegrappa continues a long tradition of craftsmanship in producing exquisite hand-made masterpieces that celebrate mankind's mastery of the written word.