Sultan AlNeyadis's Epic Moon Adventure: A Journey Beyond the Stars
Imagine embarking on a journey beyond the confines of Earth, to the moon. This is the story of Sultan AlNeyadis.
UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi has returned to Earth, after completing a historic six-month mission aboard the International Space Station.
A SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying him and three fellow astronauts splashed down in the Atlantic, off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida, at 8.17am, UAE time, on Monday.
This was the UAE’s second human space flight and the Arab world’s first extended mission– as well as the first time an Arab astronaut performed a spacewalk.
Welcome home! Crew-6 splashed down safely in the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida, at 12:17am ET after 186 days aboard the ISS, completing important research, Nasa posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Sultan Al Neyadi, the people of the UAE are immensely proud of you and the entire team for achieving major advances in space exploration, Sheikh Mohamed wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
President Sheikh Mohamed congratulated UAE astronaut Dr Sultan Al Neyadi on his return to Earth.
You carried the dreams of a nation to new frontiers, and we celebrate your pioneering journey and safe return, said Sheikh Mohamed.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said that Dr Al Neyadi's achievements have inspired millions of Arab youth.
We congratulate the people of the Emirates and all Arab youth on the safe return of Sultan Al Neyadi to planet Earth– the first Arab astronaut on a long mission to the International Space Station, he wrote.
A SpaceX crew arrived at the splashdown site on a boat to ensure the capsule was not leaking any toxic gases, before they could transport it to a recovery ship.
Once the craft was tightly secured on to the SpaceX recovery vessel, engineers then unbolted the hatch so the astronauts can exit.
Dr Al Neyadi and his colleagues were carried out of the capsule and were placed in a gurney-type transport.
Dr Al Neyadi was seen smiling and waving to the camera after leaving the capsule.
Astronauts who spend long periods of time in space often cannot walk straight away after returning, as their bodies get used to gravity again.
The recovery could take up to two hours.
Dr Al Neyadi carried out more than 200 science experiments aboard the orbiting outpost, including ones assigned by Nasa and ones by universities across the UAE.
He also spent much of his time documenting Earth from above, particularly Arab countries in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Pupils across the UAE spoke with him through live calls, as part of the A Call from Space outreach initiative by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre– the organisation that oversees the country’s astronaut programme.
Join us in celebrating this incredible journey, as we continue to reach for the stars.