Breaking Barriers: The First UAE Long-Duration Astronaut Aboard SpaceX's Endeavour

Source - NASA

February 21, 2023

2 mins read

The Crew-6 mission will launch on February 26 with four astronauts on board a Crew Dragon spacecraft atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The mission, dubbed Endeavour, is the sixth crew rotation mission with astronauts using the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket to the orbiting laboratory. The launch is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which will carry two Americans, one Arab, and a Russian astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS). The Crew-6 mission includes an astronaut from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who will become the second UAE astronaut to stay at the ISS. The launch will carry Sultan Al-Neyadi, a member of the crew and the first long-duration astronaut from the UAE. The crewmates also include Commander Stephen Bowen, Pilot Warren “Woody” Hoburg, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. The four astronauts have already entered quarantine in preparation for their flight to the ISS. The launch will be livestreamed by NASA via the NASA TV channel, with coverage starting at 10:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 27. The spacecraft’s arrival at the ISS will also be livestreamed, with docking scheduled for 2:54 a.m. ET on Sunday, February 27.

The Crew-6 Mission

The Crew-6 mission consists of four astronauts who will travel to the International Space Station (ISS) for a stay of about seven months. The mission includes an astronaut from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who will become the second UAE astronaut to stay at the ISS after a different UAE astronaut visited the space station for eight days in 2019.

The Crew-6 crewmates include Commander Stephen Bowen, Pilot Warren “Woody” Hoburg, Mission Specialist Sultan Alneyadi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. The launch will be the sixth crew rotation mission with astronauts using the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket to the orbiting laboratory.

Sultan Al-Neyadi, the First UAE Long-Duration Astronaut Sultan Al-Neyadi, a member of the Crew-6 mission, will be the first long-duration astronaut from the UAE. Al-Neyadi was one of the first two astronauts selected with the UAE in 2017. Prior to becoming an astronaut, he received a Ph.D. in Information Technology. Al-Neyadi is excited to follow in the footsteps of Hazzaa Ali Almansoori, who completed an eight-day space station excursion flight in 2019. The UAE is a signatory to the NASA-led Artemis Accords laying out rules for future human moon exploration as well as community norms for peaceful work in space, according to Al-Neyadi.

Livestreaming the Launch

The launch will be livestreamed by NASA via the NASA TV channel. Coverage of the launch will start at 10:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 27, with the launch scheduled for 2:07 a.m. ET on Sunday, February 28. Coverage of the Dragon’s arrival at the ISS will begin at 1 a.m. ET on Monday, February 28, with docking scheduled for 2:54 a.m. ET.

Final Thoughts

The launch of the Crew-6 mission will make history, bringing the first United Arab Emirates long-duration astronaut to space. The mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and will be the sixth crew rotation mission with astronauts using the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket to the orbiting laboratory. The launch will carry two Americans, one Arab, and a Russian astronaut, who will board the company’s Dragon spacecraft to the flying lab. The launch will be livestreamed by NASA, and viewers

Rahul Somvanshi

Rahul, possessing a profound background in the creative industry, illuminates the unspoken, often confronting revelations and unpleasant subjects, navigating their complexities with a discerning eye. He perpetually questions, explores, and unveils the multifaceted impacts of change and transformation in our global landscape. As an experienced filmmaker and writer, he intricately delves into the realms of sustainability, design, flora and fauna, health, science and technology, mobility, and space, ceaselessly investigating the practical applications and transformative potentials of burgeoning developments.