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UAE astronaut Sultan al-Neyadi arrives in Abu Dhabi, receives a hero’s welcome
Emirati astronaut Sultan al-Neyadi has returned to the UAE after completing a historic Arab space mission and successfully splashing down on Earth two weeks ago.
The UAE aircraft carrying Al-Neyadi and his members from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC), touched the tarmac at Abu Dhabi airport at 5:30 p.m. on Monday.
Seconds after he landed, several aircraft carriers displaying the colors of the UAE flag were launched across the airport skies in celebration of the astronaut’s return.
He was met with an emotional welcome by his family who waited impatiently outside the gate. They embraced him tightly as soon as he stepped out of the plane.
Al-Neyadi was greeted in an emotional welcome by his family who embraced him tightly as soon as he stepped out of his plane. (MBRSC)
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the ruler of UAE Sheikh Hamdan bin Moahmmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum greeted al-Neyadi and congratulated him for his successful space mission.
“I hope to see the UAE flag one day on mars and the moon,” the Emirati astronaut said while greeting the rulers.
Sultan al-Neyadi was greeted in an embrace by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. (MBRSC)
“From the start of the 5-year preparations for the mission to spending over 180 days in space, this has been the experience of a lifetime. After returning to Earth, it’s time to come home. I look forward to seeing you all tomorrow in our beloved UAE,” al-Neyadi posted on X, formerly known as twitter, on Sunday.
From the start of the 5-year preparations for the mission to spending over 180 days in space, this has been the experience of a lifetime. After returning to Earth, it's time to come home. I look forward to seeing you all tomorrow in our beloved UAE. 🇦🇪 pic.twitter.com/twNVcWZWcl
— Sultan AlNeyadi (@Astro_Alneyadi) September 17, 2023
He returned to Earth on September 4 after successfully completing a six-month mission on the International Space Station. The UAE astronaut and his crewmates onboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida after a 17-hour space journey.
People across the UAE impatiently waited for al-Neyadi’s return to Earth. Across the UAE, electronic billboards showed a countdown to the Emirati’s arrival, saying “Safe Journey, Sultan.”
Since his return two weeks ago, al-Neyadi has been in a recovery program in Houston, Texas, to help him readapt to gravity.
The Director General of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC), Salem AlMarri, posted on X on Sunday that the UAE space team was present in Houston with al-Neyadi as they prepared for his return home.
AlMarri in his post also highlighted al-Neyadi’s longing to return home.
“Praise be to God, the program and work schedule that he started after returning from the International Space Station is continuing, and things are fine. Every time we talk, he tells us about his enthusiasm and longing for his homeland after an absence of more than a year spent between training and a mission in space,” the Director General wrote on X.
نحن متواجدين مع الفريق الاداري والطبي والتقني في هيوستن مع سلطان وهو على أتم الاستعداد للعودة إلى الوطن إن شاء الله يوم الاثنين القادم..
الحمد لله البرنامج وجدول العمل الذي بدأه بعد العودة من محطة الفضاء الدولية مستمر، والأمور على ما يرام..
في كل مرة نتحدث فيها يخبرنا عن حماسته… pic.twitter.com/3bD3hNLwKI— Salem AlMarri سالم حميد المري (@Salem_HAlMarri) September 16, 2023
His mission saw al-Neyadi – who is only the second person from the UAE to fly to space and the first to launch from US soil as part of a long-duration space station team – conduct more than 200 experiments on the orbiting outpost.
Al-Neyadi conducted hundreds of experiments in space, ranging from human cell growth in space, controlling combustible materials in microgravity, tissue chip research on heart, brain, and cartilage functions, studying sleep quality intended to help develop therapies for astronauts to improve sleep quality and overall health during extended space missions, and the effects of microgravity on the human heart, as well as maintenance tasks onboard ISS.
Read more:
UAE leaders congratulate al-Neyadi upon successful mission and safe return to Earth
UAE astronaut Sultan al-Neyadi returns to Earth safely after six-month mission on ISS
Homeward bound: UAE astronaut Sultan al-Neyadi leaves International Space Station