UAE space authorities have officially confirmed that Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi is set to commence his journey back to Earth at 5.05 pm on Saturday. Dr. Al Neyadi is scheduled to make a splashdown off the coast of Florida at 8.58 am UAE time on Sunday, thereby concluding a historic six-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Accompanying him on the return trip are three Crew-6 colleagues: Nasa astronauts Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg, along with Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.
Having arrived at the ISS on March 3, Dr. Al Neyadi followed in the footsteps of the UAE’s first astronaut, Hazza Al Mansouri. He has not only achieved recognition for the Arab world’s inaugural long-duration space mission but has also made history by becoming the first Arab to perform a spacewalk.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre revealed the schedule for his momentous return journey on Thursday. The public in the UAE has the opportunity to witness Dr. Al Neyadi’s remarkable voyage from 400km above Earth through live coverage on the MBRSC website: www.mbrsc.ae/live.
Key Return Timings:
- Saturday, September 2: Live coverage of undocking procedure begins at 3pm, with undocking scheduled for 5.05pm.
- Sunday, September 3: Live coverage starts from 8.30am. The splashdown is scheduled for no earlier than 8.58am.
During his time on the ISS, Dr. Al Neyadi conducted over 200 scientific investigations and outreach activities. After his return, he will undergo medical examinations in the US before heading back to the UAE for celebratory events. Subsequently, he will return to the US for further mission debriefings. Once he resumes a more extended stay in the UAE, he will engage in nationwide roadshows to share his invaluable experiences.
