Astronaut Sultan Al-Niyadi from the United Arab Emirates. He has described the initiative of the UAE and Saudi Arabia to launch a space mission. As a new era for the Arab countries for space exploration.
According to Arab News, in a special interview from the International Space Station. Sultan al-Niyadi said that it is a matter of great honour for him. That he is following in the footsteps of the first Arab figures to step into the world of space, including Prince Sultan. Bin Salman, Mohammad Faris, and Hamza Al Mansoori are include.
Prince Sultan of Saudi Arabia was the first Arab astronaut to travel to space in 1985. On the American space shuttle ‘ACTS 51G. While Mohammad Faris is the second Arab and the first Syrian person to go into space. He travelled to the Mir space station in 1987 by Soyuz TM3. Hamza Al Mansoori became the first Emirati in space, spending eight days aboard the International Space Station in 2019.
Sultan al-Niyadi is currently on a six-month mission to the International Space Station along with three American and three Russian astronauts.
Sultan Al Niyadi is the second Emirati to travel to space and the first Arab astronaut to walk in space.
He said about his space mission that spending six months on the station is very important to participate in human efforts to further advance space exploration; this is definitely a new era for the Arab world.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates technology
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are investing in technology and medical research. As well as their respective space industries.
The Saudi Space Agency was launch four years ago by royal decree to promote economic diversification. Research and development, and private sector participation in the global space industry.
Since the launch of the kingdom’s government-funded space programme, it has signed agreements with many of the world’s space agencies, astronaut companies, and top universities to further its cooperation.
On May 22 this year, Rayana Barnawi from Saudi Arabia made history by becoming the first Arab woman to travel to space. While Saudi fighter pilot Ali Qarni travelled to the International Space Station on a private mission.
In 2017, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the astronaut programme. Along with the then Deputy Supreme Commander and current President Sheikh Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Sultan Al Nayadi was selected from among 4,000 candidates for the UAE’s first space mission.
Al-Niyadi hoped to inspire the next generation of Arab astronauts who will take the Middle East’s new space programmes to the moon, Mars, and beyond.
