Highlights
- UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi to return from ISS in the coming weeks.
- Dr. Al Neyadi embarked on Arab world’s first extended space mission.
- Return journey via SpaceX Dragon craft with three colleagues.
- Exact return date yet to be confirmed, likely end of August or early September.
- Crew-6 mission’s conclusion depends on handover to incoming Crew-7.
- Live-streaming planned for spacecraft undocking and splashdown.
- Dr. Al Neyadi’s mission paves way for future extended space endeavors by UAE astronauts.
- UAE’s growing role in international space exploration beyond low-Earth orbit.
UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi who embarked on the Arab world’s first extended space mission, is gearing up for his return to Earth in the coming weeks. Dr. Al Neyadi, stationed aboard the International Space Station (ISS) since March 3, will travel back to Earth via a SpaceX Dragon craft along with three fellow crew members. The specific return date is yet to be confirmed, but it’s expected to be towards the end of August or early September.
The conclusion of the Crew-6 mission awaits the successful handover of pending experiments and duties to the incoming Crew-7, set to reach the ISS on August 26. The departure timeline usually follows the arrival of the replacement crew.
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The return journey for Dr. Al Neyadi and his colleagues, NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, will involve a SpaceX Dragon capsule. The exact duration of the journey back is estimated to be between 16 to 24 hours.
Nasa and SpaceX plan to live-stream the spacecraft undocking from the ISS, as well as the splashdown upon return. Dr. Al Neyadi’s landmark mission marks the first Arab astronaut to conduct an extended space mission and perform a spacewalk. His return will be accompanied by a medical rehabilitation phase, followed by his active involvement in various activities.
This pioneering mission by Dr. Al Neyadi is expected to pave the way for future extended space missions by UAE astronauts and strengthen collaborations with NASA and other international space entities. With a growing astronaut corps, the UAE continues to play a significant role in advancing space exploration endeavors beyond low-Earth orbit.
