In Pictures: Emirati Astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi Presents UAE Flag to HH Sheikh Mohammed
The Emirati astronaut returned from space on September 18
Yesterday, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, welcomed the Zayed Ambition 2 team of astronauts and workers from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) at Za’abeel Palace in Dubai.
Sultan Al Neyadi, having recently completed the Expedition 69 mission, returned to the UAE. During his mission, he dedicated 600 hours to conducting 200 experiments on the International Space Station and achieved the distinction of becoming the first Arab astronaut to complete a spacewalk lasting 6.5 hours.
Hazza Al Mansoori, who became the first Emirati astronaut to go to space in 2019, accompanied Sultan Al Neyadi on Expedition 69, as his Increment Lead, ensuring the seamless integration and execution of crew activities.
In their meeting, Sultan Al Neyadi presented HH Sheikh Mohammed with the Emirati flag he had taken with him to the International Space Station, elegantly framed for display. This heartfelt gesture coincided perfectly with the upcoming UAE Flag Day celebration on November 3.
HH Sheikh Mohammed praised Sultan Al Neyadi and Hazzaa Al Mansoori saying, “We value each accomplishment of our brightest minds in advancing the country’s journey towards progress and innovation. The commitment of Al Neyadi and Al Mansoori serves as an inspiring model for Emirati and Arab youth, as well as young people worldwide, striving to attain the highest levels of excellence in crucial fields that benefit humanity and shape a better future for the world.”
The team also discussed the outcomes and conclusions from the experiments conducted during the mission and His Highness was briefed by the MBRSC team about the latest training programmes that UAE astronauts Mohammad Al Mulla and Nora Al Matrooshi are undergoing to prepare for future human spaceflight missions.
Lead image courtesy of Dubai Media Office