The United Arab Emirates announced Monday selecting astronaut Sultan al-Neyadi to participate in the first long-term mission to the International Space Station (ISS), as part of a NASA, Space-X and Crew-6 mission that will launch in spring 2023.
Neyadi will spend six months aboard the ISS, during which he will conduct many in-depth and advanced scientific experiments as part of the UAE Astronaut Program.
The program aims to train and prepare a team of Emirati astronauts and send them to space to carry out various scientific missions.
Neyadi's mission came after the signing of a strategic partnership agreement in April between the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre and Axiom Space, a US company specializing in space flights and the development of space infrastructure.
President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, said the UAE is strengthening its stature in the space sector, due to its people's determination and ambition.
They stressed that Neyadi represents an honorable model for the Emirati and Arab youth and will be an ambassador for all Arabs in the space race, stressing that the country is establishing the foundations of this vital sector by supplying it with qualified national cadres, launching further scientific projects related to space exploration, and supporting related industries.
The President congratulated the Emirati people on Neyadi’s selection for the mission, noting that the UAE has become the 11th country in history to participate in a long-term mission to space.
