UAE space: Al Neyadi to return to Earth on September 03
Sultan Al Neyadi, the first Arab astronaut to spend six months in space, will return to Earth on September 3rd, according to the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC). This will conclude the longest Arab space mission ever documented.
Sultan Al Neyadi return date
Al Neyadi will leave the International Space Station on September 2nd onboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft Endeavour, together with NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Warren Hoburg and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. The team, outfitted in pressure suits, is prepared for a September 3 splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Tampa, Florida.
Ahead of the deorbit sequence, thorough checks will be conducted, particularly assessing weather forecasts and the readiness for recovery at the designated splashdown area.
The historic mission was carried out by SpaceX's Dragon Endeavour spacecraft, which was launched on March 2. Al Neyadi, Bowen, Hoburg, and Fedyaev took part in more than 200 tests over the period of six months in cooperation with foreign space agencies, UAE universities, and worldwide educational institutions.
These studies covered a wide range of topics, including sophisticated exploration technologies, fluid dynamics, material science, protein crystallization growth, and plant genetics. In order to assist the objective across multiple disciplines, these initiatives encouraged participation from the scientific community, researchers, and students in the UAE and elsewhere.
During this mission, Al Neyadi achieved several remarkable milestones for a UAE astronaut, including becoming the first Arab to complete a spacewalk, alongside NASA astronaut Bowen.
Additionally, Al Neyadi engaged in 19 educational and community outreach events named the "A Call from Space" series, wherein over 10,000 participants from diverse backgrounds interacted with the Emirati astronaut through live video calls and ham radio sessions.
