30.04.2023

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed celebrates landmark moment in country’s space exploration mission

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed celebrates landmark moment in country’s space exploration mission

UAE Astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi has made history by completing the first Arab spacewalk.

The seven-hour mission was watched by thousands of Arabs, space-lovers, science enthusiasts and people all around the world as Neyadi and fellow astronaut Stephen Bowen of the USA climbed out of a hatch on the International Space Station and entered into space.

The spacewalk began at 5.11pm UAE time and concluded when the astronauts had returned back into an airlock at just after midnight.

UAE spacewalk success

 UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan lauded Al Neyadi’s achievement.

Taking to Twitter Sheikh Mohamed said: “With this week’s discoveries by the Hope probe, the achievements of the Rashid rover mission, and Sultan Al Neyadi’s first-ever spacewalk by an Arab astronaut, the UAE continues to make a meaningful contribution to space exploration and advancements in science.”

The astronauts were outside the International Space Station to conduct routine maintenance work on the structure.

Al Neyadi, wearing a high-tech space suit and tethered only by a simple safety harness, moved around the ISS guided by NASA colleagues in ground control.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai shared his pride in the achievement.

In a moving post on social media, he said: “After three years of intensive training, today we saw Sultan Al Neyadi on the first mission to walk in outer space, carrying out missions to install new parts and carry out maintenance on the International Space Station, the first Emirati, the first Arab, the first Muslim, to walk in outer space. We are proud of that.

“They say that two-thirds of the stars in the sky bear Arabic names. Arabs are capable. Arabs are coming. Arabs are creative if we decide to focus on science, invest in youth and stay away from differences.”

Moments after stepping back onto the International Space Station Al Neyadi addressed the world in both English and Arabic.

He said: “It’s a great moment for the UAE. I would like to thank the leadership of the UAE and also the USA. Also thank you to MBRSC and NASA for believing in us and for giving us this opportunity.

“It is the first in the Arab world, but definitely won’t be the last. We have astronauts training now to undergo missions to the ISS, for the Moon and Mars. I would like to thank everybody for this moment”.

While Al Neyadi was outside the ISS, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of the UAE and Chairman of The Executive Council congratulated the UAE on the historic moment.

He said: “The UAE’s space program has achieved a new historic milestone with @astro_alneyadi  becoming the first Arab to perform a spacewalk.

“We extend our congratulations to the UAE’s leadership, its people, and the entire region for this remarkable accomplishment.

“We take great pride in this achievement and celebrate this momentous occasion. We also wish @astro_alneyadi a safe and successful mission”.

The entire spacewalk was streamed by NASA and watched by a captivated audience.

Throughout the mission the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre shared video highlights via social media. See video footage of the UAE’s pioneering Sultan Al Neyadi below.

Quelle: Arabian Business

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President Sheikh Mohamed hails Sultan Al Neyadi's historic spacewalk

Emirati astronaut became the first Arab to perform a spacewalk

Sultan Al Neyadi before his history-making spacewalk on Friday. Photo: Sultan Al Neyadi

President Sheikh Mohamed on Friday hailed Sultan Al Neyadi's historic spacewalk, saying that the UAE is continuing to make a meaningful contribution to space exploration and science.

Dr Al Neyadi, a father of six from Al Ain, exited the International Space Station on Friday at 5.41pm GST alongside Nasa colleague Stephen Bowen to begin a six-and-a-half-hour maintenance assignment.

He became the first Arab astronaut to perform a spacewalk.

“With this week’s new discoveries by the Hope probe, the achievements of the Rashid rover mission and Sultan Al Neyadi’s first ever spacewalk by an Arab astronaut, the UAE continues to make a meaningful contribution to space exploration and advancements in science,” Sheikh Mohamed said on Twitter.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, also shared his pride after Dr Al Neyadi etched his name in the record books.

“After three years of intensive training, today we saw Sultan Al Neyadi on the first mission to walk in outer space, carrying out missions to install new parts and carry out maintenance on the International Space Station,” Sheikh Mohammed wrote on Twitter.

“The first Emirati, the first Arab, the first Muslim, to walk in outer space. Proud of that.

“They say that two thirds of the stars in the sky bear Arabic names. Arabs are capable, Arabs are coming, Arabs are creative if we decide to focus on science and invest in youth and stay away from differences.”

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, lauded the landmark moment in the UAE's space ambitions.

“The UAE's space programme has achieved a new historic milestone with Sultan Al Neyadi becoming the first Arab to perform a spacewalk,” Sheikh Hamdan wrote on Twitter.

“We extend our congratulations to the UAE's leadership, its people and the entire region for this remarkable accomplishment.

“We take great pride in this achievement and celebrate this momentous occasion. We also wish Sultan Al Neyadi a safe and successful mission.”

Dr Al Neyadi and Mr Bowen carried out numerous tasks during their time outside the ISS.

These included retrieving and relocating foot restraints that astronauts can use in future spacewalks and preparing part of the station for a future solar array installation. They also attempted to unbolt and retrieve a piece of communications hardware but were unsuccessful.

Their spacewalk officially began at 5.11pm when their spacesuits switched to battery power.

Dr Al Neyadi had already broken new ground as the first Arab astronaut to be chosen for a long-duration journey through space.

He arrived on the ISS on March 3 to begin a six-month mission aboard the orbiting laboratory.

He received support before his momentous spacewalk from Hazza Al Mansouri, the first Emirati to travel to space.

Maj Al Mansouri spent eight days on board the ISS in September 2019.

“My brother Sultan, today you are on a new date with history, the first Arab mission to walk in space,” said Maj Al Mansouri.

“We trained together on this task for three years and I am one of those who know how hard I worked and prepared.”

In what has been a busy week for UAE space exploration, on Tuesday the Rashid rover became the first Arab spacecraft to reach lunar orbit.

Although contact was lost with the Japanese spacecraft carrying the rover during the final descent to the Moon, a second UAE lunar rover mission was announced soon after. This will build on knowledge and expertise gained.

Shortly before that, the UAE’s Hope probe — which is orbiting Mars and adding to discoveries about the Red Planet — sent back data that brings into question the origins of a Martian moon.

Quelle: The National

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UAE's Sultan Al Neyadi becomes first Arab spacewalker

Astronaut conducted six-and-a-half hour maintenance mission outside International Space Station

 

UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi has made history by becoming the first Arab to perform a spacewalk.

He completed a six-and-a-half hour spacewalk, after exiting the International Space Station on Friday at 5.41pm GST with his American colleague Stephen Bowen, and re-entered the orbiting laboratory at about 11.40pm.

The duo carried out two crucial tasks during their maintenance assignment, including preparing a structure on the station’s exterior for a future solar array installation.

A live stream by Nasa showed the astronauts tied only to a tether, as they floated in the darkness of space, doing intricate repair work while wearing a bulky spacesuit.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed hailed the historic week the UAE has had in space exploration, including Friday's spacewalk.

"With this week’s new discoveries by the Hope probe, the achievements of the Rashid rover mission, and Sultan Al Neyadi’s first ever spacewalk by an Arab astronaut, the UAE continues to make a meaningful contribution to space exploration and advancements in science," Sheikh Mohammed said in a tweet.

On Monday, the Hope probe sent back landmark observations of Mars' tiny moon Deimos, helping to point out the rock's possible origins.

 

Rashid became the first Arab rover to enter lunar orbit, but on Tuesday it failed to reach the surface after the private spacecraft carrying it failed to touchdown on the Moon.

The busy week ended with Dr Al Neyadi's historic spacewalk.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said on Twitter he was proud of Dr Al Neyadi for setting history

 

UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi has made history by becoming the first Arab to walk in space. All photos: Nasa

 

“After three years of intensive training, today we saw Sultan Al Neyadi on the first mission to walk in outer space, carrying out tasks of installing new parts and maintenance on the International Space Station," Sheikh Mohammed said.

"The first Emirati, first Arab and first Muslim to walk in outer space ... proud of that.

 

"They say that two-thirds of the stars in the sky bear Arabic names. Arabs are capable... Arabs are coming... Arabs are creative, if we decide to focus on science and invest in youth."

First long-duration space mission by an Arab astronaut

Dr Al Neyadi arrived at the ISS on March 3 for a six-month mission – the Arab world’s first long duration space mission.

He is now an experienced astronaut, having carried out many different assignments that range from fixing the station’s onboard toilet, completing science experiments, doing professional-level photography and now a successful spacewalk.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, said on Twitter that the UAE’s space programme had achieved a new milestone with Dr Al Neyadi’s historic spacewalk.

“We extend our congratulations to the UAE's leadership, its people, and the entire region for this remarkable accomplishment,” he said.

 

We take great pride in this achievement and celebrate this momentous occasion. We also wish Sultan Al Neyadi a safe and successful mission.”

Sultan Al Neyadi's life on the International Space Station - in pictur

 

Sultan Al Neyadi, UAE Astronaut showing water during his first ‘ A Call with Space’ video chat with the public held at Dubai Opera in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

 

Dr Al Neyadi and Mr Bowen’s spacewalk had officially began at 5.11pm when their spacesuits switched to battery power.

While the spacesuits — known officially as extravehicular mobility units — weigh 127kg, astronauts cannot feel this weight in space.

 

Spacewalks are one of the riskiest activities astronauts do while on space missions.

They leave the comfort of the orbiting laboratory in bulky suits to conduct intricate work while floating in microgravity more than 400km above the Earth.

At the same time, the ISS is travelling at about 8km a second — completing an orbit of the planet in 90 minutes, though, astronauts cannot feel speed in space.

Troubleshooting during spacewalk

Dr Al Neyadi and Mr Bowen’s second and last big task during their spacewalk was to remove an old piece of communication hardware from the exterior of the ISS.

 

However, the radio frequency unit was never designed to be serviced during spacewalks, and so the pair struggled to remove it.

Mr Bowen used a drill to loosen the bolts and then Dr Al Neyadi used a hammer, but it did not budge.

Nasa spent some time troubleshooting the problem, but ultimately asked the astronauts to reinstall the hardware and head back to the airlock.

Spacewalks have a long history

Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov was the first person to make a spacewalk in 1965, when he left his capsule for 20 minutes during the Voskhod 2 mission.

But his step into the unknown went down in history as a near brush with death, as his spacesuit inflated moments after he stepped into space.

The following year, American astronaut Buzz Aldrin carried out a five-hour spacewalk.

In 1984, Soviet cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya became the first woman to perform a spacewalk.

The first all-female spacewalk took place in 2019, by Nasa astronauts Jessica Meir and Christina Koch.

Quelle: The National