Sultan AlNeyadi to return to the UAE on September 18: MBRSC

Image: WAM

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) announced the date of return for Emirati astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi. The UAE astronaut will return home on September 18 after successfully completing his debrief and recovery programme in the US.

“After astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi 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 MBRSC posted on Twitter.

After astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi 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.#SultanHomecoming pic.twitter.com/whuNUUjLIV

— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) September 14, 2023

AlNeyadi scripted history by becoming the first Arab astronaut to complete a six-month long mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). AlNeyadi and his Crew-6 colleagues returned to Earth on September 4 after completing the mission. The crew aboard the SpaceX Dragon Endeavor splashed down off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida. They were moved to Houston for recovery.

Sultan AlNeyadi on his time in space

AlNeyadi gave his first public address since returning from his six-month mission aboard the ISS on Tuesday. He spoke about what he is missing after coming back to Earth.

He was joined by his crewmates, NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg. The trio spoke from Houston, Texas, in an online briefing hosted by the US space agency, NASA.

Astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi thanks all the teams that worked on the mission and confirms his desire to return to space in the future.#ZayedAmbition pic.twitter.com/2sFfvQdMH9

— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) September 12, 2023

The Emirati astronaut also spoke about transitioning from a microgravity environment to that on Earth. He shared how difficult it was to adjust to Earth’s gravity as his body found it challenging to even hold a bottle of water.

AlNeyadi added that the discomfort was temporary and his body recovered swiftly, thanks to the recovery teams, flight surgeons, and rehabilitation facilities.