During Expedition 69, which is scheduled for April 28, Sultan AlNeyadi will be the first Arab astronaut to perform a spacewalk on the International Space Station.
Sultan AlNeyadi will become the first Arab astronaut to perform a spacewalk during Expedition 69 on the International Space Station (ISS), according to an announcement made on Thursday by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC).
Sultan The United Arab Emirates will become the tenth nation to carry out a spacewalk on the ISS. AlNeyadi will participate in the 262nd spacewalk to help the space station be assembled, maintained, and upgraded.
A rigorous selection process is used to select astronauts for spacewalks on the ISS based on their abilities, experience, and adaptability to the challenging environment of space. In addition to having excellent physical fitness and mental resilience, they must demonstrate exceptional proficiency in a variety of fields, including engineering, robotics, and life support systems.
On the International Space Station (ISS), spacewalks, also known as Extravehicular Activity (EVA), are essential for sustaining, upgrading, and expanding the capabilities of the orbiting laboratory.
During these spacewalks, astronauts are able to carry out a variety of tasks, including putting new technology and hardware in place, assembling and constructing the ISS modules, and repairing essential systems. Additionally, spacewalks on the International Space Station (ISS) are a symbol of international cooperation because they involve astronauts from various nations working together and encouraging the sharing of information and resources.
Spacewalks carry a high risk, so only qualified astronauts are given the opportunity to carry out this crucial task. In addition to being physically taxing because of the suit’s pressurized resistance, the EVA process is also mentally taxing because astronauts must concentrate on their work as well as their safety, a large number of potential tools, and interacting with the crew and mission control staff.
In preparation for spacewalks, AlNeyadi worked out for more than 55 hours at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL), which is located at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. AlNeyadi trained for nine runs of six hours each at the NBL, using the complete ISS mockup for underwater spacewalk simulations.
As NASA Flight Engineer Stephen Bowen and AlNeyadi collaborate to complete essential tasks, this year’s fifth spacewalk from the ISS and Expedition 69’s third will be significant. The highly anticipated EVA, which is expected to last about 6.5 hours, will give the astronauts a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the vastness of space while they work to keep the ISS running smoothly. In addition to highlighting their individual abilities, their cooperation and teamwork will emphasize the significance of international cooperation in advancing human space exploration.
Retrieving a crucial Radio Frequency Group (RFG) unit, which is an essential component of the ISS’s S-Band communications string, will be one of the primary goals of the EVA. A SpaceX flight will bring this crucial piece of communications equipment back to Earth.
AlNeyadi and his team will be working on a number of preparatory tasks for the solar array installation EVAs that are planned for later in the mission in addition to the primary task. The ISS is powered by solar arrays, which provide clean, renewable energy for its various experiments, systems, and day-to-day operations.
“Sultan AlNeyadi’s historic spacewalk is a testament to the UAE’s unwavering dedication to advancing the frontiers of space exploration and fostering international cooperation,” stated Hamad Obaid AlMansoori, Chairman of MBRSC. As the main Middle Easterner space explorer set to play out an EVA, AlNeyadi conveys the desires of the whole area and represents the boundless conceivable outcomes of our aggregate accomplishments. As we continue to inspire future generations to relentlessly pursue knowledge and innovation, this milestone also embodies our long-term vision to strengthen the UAE’s position as a global leader in space, science, and technology.”
Salem Humaid AlMarri, Chief General, MBRSC, expressed, “As the principal Middle Easterner space traveler set to play out a spacewalk, Ruler AlNeyadi’s achievement represents our obligation to spearheading space investigation and adding to the worldwide space local area. Not only does this remarkable event represent a remarkable achievement for the UAE and the region, but it also highlights the ongoing international collaboration and scientific advancements on the ISS, taking place during the longest Arab space mission in history.”
AlNeyadi and his Crew-6 team launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on March 2 at 09:34 UAE time, completing a month in space. After a 25-hour flight, the crew docked with the ISS on March 3 at 10:40 UAE time and entered the station at 12:45 UAE time.
AlNeyadi has authoritatively initiated Endeavor 69 alongside his crewmates, following the new undocking of the Soyuz MS-22 shuttle. The crew’s schedule on the ISS has been dominated by human research activities like ultrasound scans, eye exams, and hearing tests. AlNeyadi and his crewmates participated in a variety of activities. Bowen attached electrodes to himself and marked veins for the Vascular Aging investigation in order to help the astronauts learn more about heart conditions that can occur on Earth as well as those that can occur in space. Bowen, Frank Rubio, and Dmitri Petelin used the same medical imaging equipment that can be found in an optometrist’s office on Earth to check AlNeyadi’s eyes during another session.
Space physics was also on the agenda as engineers and scientists tried to figure out how Earth-made materials react to microgravity. AlNeyadi continued to concentrate on cargo work, offloading some of the 2,800 kilograms of brand-new science experiments, supplies for the crew, and station hardware that the SpaceX Dragon resupply ship brought with it. For the foam and emulsions experiment, the team continued with a variety of experiments, including servicing samples in the Electrostatic Levitation Furnace and investigating the dispersion of bubbles and droplets in liquids.
The crew will continue with a number of experiments, including testing a novel instrument for deep-space immune monitoring, examining the effects of microgravity on material combustion to improve spacecraft safety, and expanding research on 3D-cultured cardiac muscle tissue to evaluate human cardiac function in microgravity. In addition to performing maintenance tasks on board the ISS, AlNeyadi will be involved in community outreach programs, including live calls and ham radio interactions.
One of the projects managed by MBRSC as part of the UAE’s National Space Program is the UAE Astronaut Program. It is supported by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA)’s ICT Fund, which aims to encourage the UAE’s global integration and support research and development in the ICT sector.
