Lift off: UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi en route to space

March 2

History has been made! UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi has taken off and is heading to space as part of NASA’s Space-X Crew-6 mission.

Live coverage of the launch of the longest Arab space mission in history, a 6-month mission carried out by astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi aboard the International Space Station as part of Crew-6. https://t.co/Kah6tjRRMO

— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) March 2, 2023

10.25am
Sultan Al Neyadi’s first message from space after his launch.

أول رسالة لسلطان النيادي من الفضاء بعد انطلاقه لخوض أطول مهمة فضائية في تاريخ العرب.#طموح_زايد #أطول_مهمة_فضائية_في_تاريخ_العرب pic.twitter.com/32MqY5eMwH

— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) March 2, 2023

9.35am
The Falcon 9 spacecraft has now taken off.

9.28am
Engine chill prior to launch.

Falcon 9 engine chill prior to launch has begun.#UAE2space#TheLongestArabSpaceMission

— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) March 2, 2023

9.05am
The crew access arm has been retracted from the rocket.

إبعاد الممر المؤدي إلى مركبة دراجون عن صاروخ فالكون 9.

The Crew Access Arm has been moved away from the Falcon 9 rocket.#طموح_زايد #أطول_مهمة_فضائية_في_تاريخ_العرب#UAE2Space#TheLongestArabSpaceMission pic.twitter.com/n0c5YmtQa9

— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) March 2, 2023

8.35am

One hour to go for mission launch.

T-1 hour to launch#UAE2space#TheLongestArabSpaceMission

— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) March 2, 2023

7.33am
Prepare for mission launch.

Highlights of astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi and his Crew-6 colleagues inside the Dragon spacecraft while they prepare for the mission launch in less than 2 hours.#UAE2Space#TheLongestArabSpaceMission

— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) March 2, 2023

7.28am
The hatch to the spacecraft has been closed.

7.15am
The crew walks across the Crew Access arm and enter the Dragon spacecraft in which they will liftoff to the International Space Station.

طاقم مهمة Crew-6 يعبر الممر المؤدي إلى مركبة دراجون، ويدخل إلى هذه المركبة التي ستحمل رواد الفضاء إلى محطة الفضاء الدولية.#طموح_زايد #أطول_مهمة_فضائية_في_تاريخ_العرب pic.twitter.com/HTI2hVVNg3

— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) March 2, 2023

6.38am
The Crew-6 team heads to the launch complex.

رائد الفضاء سلطان النيادي وزملاؤه بطاقم Crew-6 يغادرون إلى مجمع الإطلاق 39A في مركز كينيدي للفضاء.

Astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi and his Crew-6 colleagues are heading to the Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center.#طموح_زايد #أطول_مهمة_فضائية_في_تاريخ_العرب#UAE2Space pic.twitter.com/EXNK5wKZxh

— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) March 2, 2023

February 27

An attempt to launch NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission to the International Space Station will take place later this week.

The next available launch attempt will be on Thursday, March 2, at 12.34am EST, ‘pending resolution of the technical issue preventing Monday’s launch’, NASA said in a blog post.

NASA and @SpaceX teams are targeting Thursday, March 2, at 12:34am ET (0534 UTC) for the next launch attempt of the #Crew6 mission. Follow @Commercial_Crew and our blog for updates: https://t.co/9X0qaBNLFm pic.twitter.com/0EDhUtTIax

— NASA (@NASA) February 27, 2023

NASA and SpaceX scrubbed today’s launch attempt due to a ground systems issue. It was set to liftoff from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A at 1.45am Eastern Standard Time/10.45am UAE local time.

“Mission teams decided to stand down to investigate an issue preventing data from confirming a full load of the ignition source for the Falcon 9 first stage Merlin engines, triethylaluminum triethylboron (or TEA-TEB),” the space agency added.

Launch Update: Today’s #Crew6 launch has been scrubbed due to an issue with ground systems. Stand by for details on a new launch date and time. https://t.co/149FPqMrnu pic.twitter.com/1PSYsjCGpL

— NASA (@NASA) February 27, 2023

“I’m proud of the NASA and SpaceX teams’ focus and dedication to keeping Crew-6 safe,” said NASA administrator Bill Nelson. “Human spaceflight is an inherently risky endeavour and, as always, we will fly when we are ready.”

SpaceX has removed propellant from the Falcon 9 rocket and the astronauts have exited the Dragon spacecraft for astronaut crew quarters. Both the Falcon 9 and Dragon are in a safe configuration.

The Crew-6 mission will carry UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi as well as NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Warren Hoburg as well as Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. They will be onboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, named Endeavour, mated atop a Falcon 9 rocket. The spacecraft has a height of 8.1 metres and can carry up to seven passengers.

Al Neyadi is the first Arab astronaut to join the six-month mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

Read: NASA reveals new launch date for mission carrying UAE astronaut

Here is an overview about the Dragon spacecraft that will carry astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi and his Crew-6 colleagues to the International Space Station, where AlNeyadi will conduct the longest Arab space mission in history.#UAE2space#TheLongestArabSpaceMission pic.twitter.com/ktH6FHyrBL

— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) February 27, 2023

Sultan Al Neyadi be making his first trip to space, representing the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center.

10.54am
NASA announced that the launch of its Crew-6 mission from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A in Florida has been scrubbed.

More information is expected to come soon, the agency said in a blog post.

Launch Update: Today’s #Crew6 launch has been scrubbed due to an issue with ground systems. Stand by for details on a new launch date and time. https://t.co/149FPqMrnu pic.twitter.com/1PSYsjCGpL

— NASA (@NASA) February 27, 2023

10am
Its a ‘Go’ for the propellant launch.

The launch director has verified ‘Go’ for propellant launch.#UAE2space#TheLongestArabSpaceMission

— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) February 27, 2023

9.40am
Al Neyadi taking the assigned seat in the spacecraft.

The moment astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi entered the Dragon spacecraft to take the seat assigned to him in preparation for the longest Arab space mission in history.#UAE2Space#TheLongestArabSpaceMission

— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) February 27, 2023

9.05am
Ground support leaving the pad.

The hatch to Dragon has been closed and the ground support is leaving the pad.#UAE2space#TheLongestArabSpaceMission

— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) February 27, 2023

8.50am

The UAE astronaut fulfilling one of the pre-launch traditions.

Astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi leaves his sign on the white wall in a protocol followed before entering the Dragon spacecraft.#UAE2Space#TheLongestArabSpaceMission

— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) February 27, 2023

7.32am

The crew fulfilled a few traditions prior to launch.

The hatch to Dragon has been closed and the ground support is leaving the pad.#UAE2space#TheLongestArabSpaceMission

— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) February 27, 2023

Sultan Al Neyadi took to Twitter to pen a heartful note prior to beginning his historic mission.

On this planet, I leave behind everyone I love and take off to space.. ?

I leave behind a country that has forged its way to stars and lit its path with Zayed’s Ambition.. ??

I leave you all behind until we meet again from space..

Your brother, Sultan Al Neyadi. pic.twitter.com/vgbTNXlSvj

— Sultan AlNeyadi (@Astro_Alneyadi) February 27, 2023