Emirati Astronaut Sultan Alneyadi Makes History as First Arab Astronaut to Perform a Spacewalk
Emirati astronaut Sultan Alneyadi has made history by becoming the first Arab astronaut to embark on a spacewalk. The momentous occasion was celebrated by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a “milestone” in the country's growing space exploration program.
Alneyadi, who was dubbed the “Sultan of Space” by his alma mater, has been on a six-month space mission since blasting off for the International Space Station (ISS) in March aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. On Friday, he stepped out of the ISS in a space suit adorned with the Emirati flag, marking the first Arab spacewalk in history.
The spacewalk lasted for around six and a half hours and involved Alneyadi and NASA astronaut Stephen Bowen changing the Radio Frequency Group unit and preparing for the installation of solar panels. NASA also announced that the two astronauts would be routing power cables to prepare for future power system upgrades outside the ISS.
The Emirati astronaut took to Twitter to express his excitement about the spacewalk, saying, “Today is a great honor for me to be the first Emirati and Arab astronaut to perform a spacewalk outside the International Space Station.” The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) also hailed the moment as a “new historic milestone.”
Alneyadi is the second man from the UAE to go to space, following Hazzaa al-Mansoori’s eight-day mission in 2019. However, he is the first Arab to embark on a long-duration space mission, which highlights the UAE's commitment to advancing its space exploration program.
The UAE's space program has made significant strides in recent years, with the country launching its first satellite in 2009 and its first astronaut in 2019. The country also aims to establish a human settlement on Mars by 2117.
The historic spacewalk by Alneyadi is a testament to the UAE's dedication to pushing the boundaries of space exploration and cementing its place as a key player in the global space race.
External Link: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/29/emirati-astronaut-sultan-alneyadi-performs-historic-spacewalk
