Emirati astronaut Neyadi set to return to the UAE on Sept.18

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi is all set to return to the UAE on Sept.18, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre has announced.

The MBRSC said, “After astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi carried Zayed's Ambition to space, it is now time for his homecoming.

“Stay tuned for his return to the UAE on 18 September, following the completion of the longest Arab space mission in history.”

The Neyadi’s mission is the longest mission for an Arab astronaut on board the International Space Station.

Over the course of the mission, Al Neyadi was involved in over 200 experiments, partnering with international space agencies and esteemed UAE and global universities. His contributions span diverse fields, including plant genetics, human life sciences, exploration technology, fluid dynamics, material science, protein crystallisation growth, and advanced exploration technologies.

These experiments have been instrumental in helping the scientific community, researchers, and students in the UAE and around the world become an integral part of the mission, supporting it in various capacities. Al Neyadi also accomplished a number of firsts for a UAE astronaut during this mission, including becoming the first Arab to complete a spacewalk, alongside his fellow crewmate NASA astronaut Bowen.

Al Neyadi further engaged in 19 educational and community outreach events called the "A Call from Space" series, in which over 10,000 people from all walks of life took part and interacted with the Emirati astronaut through live video calls and ham radio sessions.

The UAE Astronaut Programme is one of the projects managed by MBRSC under the UAE’s National Space Programme and funded by the ICT Fund of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), which aims to support research and development in the ICT sector in the UAE and promote the country’s integration on the global stage.