UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi celebrates birthday in space

UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi has celebrated his first birthday at the International Space Station (ISS), where he is on a six-month mission – the Arab world’s first long-duration space mission.

“Celebrated my 1st birthday in space with colleagues who have become family!”, Al Neyadi said in a tweet. “Highlight of the day? A Maple Muffin top cake from the USA crew, a Cinnamon Bun with yoghurt and dry fruits from Russian crew, topped off with wishes in Arabic.”

Al Neyadi has been in space for almost three months and during this time he has performed a historic spacewalk, carried out scientific investigations and captured stunning images of Earth. The duo carried out two crucial tasks during their maintenance assignment, including preparing a structure on the station’s exterior for a future solar array installation.

Celebrated my 1st birthday ? in space with colleagues who have become family! Highlight of the day? A Maple Muffin top cake from the USA crew, a Cinnamon Bun with yoghurt and dry fruits from Russian crew, topped off with wishes in Arabic. Truly a gravity-defying celebration! ? pic.twitter.com/gcDBmCHxXB

— Sultan AlNeyadi (@Astro_Alneyadi) May 25, 2023

In April, he completed a six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk with his American colleague Stephen Bowen. Al Neyadi has also carried live question-answer session from the ISS including one with Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, earlier in March.

He is now an experienced astronaut, having carried out several tasks and assignments that range from fixing the station’s onboard toilet, completing science experiments, doing professional-level photography and now a successful spacewalk.

Al Neyadi welcomes Saudi astronauts

Meanwhile, Al Neyadi and fellow crew members on board the ISS welcomed four astronauts last week, including two from Saudi Arabia, who are on a private trip, called Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2).

The crew, which includes Rayyanah Barnawi, the first Saudi woman astronaut and Ali Al Qarni, will stay at the ISS for eight days. Their mission includes several firsts, including the first woman to serve as commander on a private trip, the first Saudi astronauts to go to the ISS and the first Arab woman on the space station.

During their time on the ISS, the Saudi astronauts will engage in 11 research and scientific experiments within a microgravity environment. They will participate in three interactive educational experiences with students in Saudi Arabia, bringing the total number of experiments to 14.

Barnawi and Al Qarni’s focus will be on conducting human research, cell sciences and cloud seeding experiments in the microgravity environment.

Read: Saudi astronauts embark on landmark space mission: Watch liftoff