Astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) made history by becoming the first Arab citizen to walk in space during his mission on the International Space Station (ISS), according to The Indian Express.
Astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi takes a selfie inside the International Space Station (ISS). (Photo: Arabian Business).
In a video released by NASA, astronaut Al Neyadi, wearing a protective suit, stepped outside from the ISS carrying the UAE flag alongside his American colleague Steve Bowen. The spacewalk lasted approximately 7 hours on April 29, aimed at replacing some radio frequency equipment and preparing for the installation of solar panels.
“Becoming the first Arab astronaut to walk in space is a great honor and responsibility. I hope to represent my country and continue the special journey that has been initiated by previous generations,” The Indian Express quoted astronaut Al Neyadi’s tweet from early April after being selected for the spacewalk mission.
The Indian Express reported that astronaut Al Neyadi is the second UAE citizen to go to the ISS, following the 8-day mission of fellow astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri in 2019. However, astronaut Al Neyadi is the first Arab citizen to undertake a long-term space mission (6 months) aboard the ISS, which began in March.
As a newcomer to the space exploration program, the UAE has quickly made its mark. In 2021, the country launched the unmanned spacecraft Amal to Mars in the first-ever mission by an Arab nation to explore the “Red Planet”. Last year, the UAE also sent the Rashid rover to the Moon.
