Sultan Al Neyadi demonstrates scientific experiments on sleep aboard the ISS

Syed Shayaan Bakht, Staff Reporter

Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi shares details of his scientific experiment on sleep on Friday.

Al Neyadi said on Twitter, “On the ISS, everything we do is a scientific experiment, including sleeping.  Through the ‘Dreams’ experiment, we are studying the sleep patterns of astronauts and the effects of microgravity on our brain activity while sleeping.

“I would like to share with you some pictures from my sleeping quarters on the space station.”

The photos show Al Neyadi inside a sleeping bag with a band clasped around his forehead.
The sleeping bag seems to be strapped to the walls of the sleeping quarters on the space station.

Al Neyadi is set create history by performing the first spacewalk by an Arab astronaut on April 28.

The Emirati astronaut, who has already made history by embarking on the longest Arab space mission for 6 months.

Al Neyadi said on Twitter, “Being chosen as the first Arab astronaut to undertake a spacewalk alongside Nasa astronaut Stephen Bowen is a great honour and responsibility.

“I am eagerly awaiting this historic moment, for which I have trained extensively at the Johnson Space Center. I am looking forward to represent my country and continue the exceptional journey started by generations of astronauts before me.”

On April 4, Neyadi received the golden astronaut badge from Nasa during his 6-month mission to the International Space Station.

He wrote, “It is a great honour for me to be part of this historic mission, representing my country, the UAE, and to receive NASA’s golden astronaut pin. I will wear this pin as a symbol of the commitment I made when I started on this journey.”

On Friday evening, the International Space Station was spotted passing over the skies of the UAE.

The International Astronomy Centre in Abu Dhabi said, “The Astronomical Seal Observatory of the International Astronomy Center depicts the passage of the International Space Station (ISS) over the sky of the Emirates a short while ago, and many components of the station appear, and inside it are seven astronauts, including the Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi.”

The grainy 22-second video clip showed the ISS rapidly moving with its solar panel wide open. On March 12, the Astronomical Seal Observatory first reported the International Space Station passing over the UAE.

It said, “In the first visible evening passage of the International Space Station over the Emirates after the arrival of the Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi.

The Astronomical Seal Observatory of the International Astronomy Center filmed the station as it passed over the skies of the UAE between 08:00 and 08:02 pm UAE time. Solar panels are visible in the video.
The International Astronomical Centre in Abu Dhabi keeps track of all-important celestial events around the world.

Nasa said astronaut Al Neyadi and his Crew-6 colleagues have started to work on their tasks aboard the ISS.

The four Crew-6 members are two NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Warren Hoburg, Russian cosmonaut, Andrey Fedyaev, and Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi.