Video: ‘It’s time to come home,’ says UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi on the eve of homecoming

“From the beginning of the five years of mission preparation to spending more than 180 days in space, this has been the experience of a lifetime. After returning to Earth, it’s time to return home. I hope to see you all tomorrow in our beloved United Arab Emirates,” he said in the post.

We need to go to the Moon. This is our next goal as Emirati astronauts. The objective is to guarantee the continuity of space missions, whether to the ISS or the Moon. We go to space with the goal of promoting science and exploration but we must also prioritize the preservation of our planet. This is how I saw my six-month mission for our planet.

– Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi

In the video he highlighted the International Space Station (ISS) as the largest spacecraft in orbit where astronauts from space agencies from various countries work together to carry out scientific experiments.

Sharing the “beautiful moments” he spent communicating with scientists while they performed such experiments, he described the fascinating experience of observing the beating of heart membranes under a microscope.

“We had beautiful moments while talking to the scientists, telling them what we see. I vividly remember the moment when I first observed through a microscope the membranes of the heart as they beat after being treated with a certain medication.”

Al Neyadi stressed that his work not only prepares astronauts for future space missions but also contributes to the development of treatments and techniques that can find applications on Earth.

He shared the mixed emotions of leaving the ISS, calling it home and saying goodbye to his fellow astronauts who became like family during their time in space. “We were sad to leave, but also excited to return to Earth.”

Al Neyadi also recalled the intense phase of re-entry to Earth when astronauts “feel fear and anticipation.”

He described the spacecraft moving rapidly and feeling the effects of gravity gradually return. “We felt the pressure increase from 0.5 g to 1 g to 4.4 g. The pressure was very strong. “I had a window in front of me and I saw the plasma as if there was a fire.”

Al Neyadi continued: “Feeling fear and anticipation is normal in situations like this. Loud sounds and heat in front of you can trigger these feelings. However, our confidence and training helped us make the landing and open the parachutes safely.”

He said he felt very emotional at the time of landing. Thanking his fellow astronauts, he said he expressed his desire to go to space with them again if he had the opportunity.

Al Neyadi expressed his deep gratitude to the leaders of the UAE, including the President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for your trust and support. describing them as role models.

He shared the memory of his personal experience in which he witnessed the visionary perspective of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, which revealed that the leadership had always aspired to even greater goals in space exploration.

Conveying the UAE’s determination to reach the Moon and Mars and sustain space missions, Al Neyadi emphasized the country’s goal of promoting science, exploration and preservation of the Earth.

“We need to go to the Moon,” he recalled saying this as his first comment to Salem Humaid Al Marri, director general of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, as soon as he stepped out of the spacecraft.

“This is our next goal as Emirati astronauts. The objective is to guarantee the continuity of space missions, whether to the ISS or the Moon. We go to space with the goal of promoting science and exploration but we must also prioritize the preservation of our planet. “This is how I saw our six-month mission for our planet,” he added.

Al Neyadi also shared a fun experience after his return to Earth. Recalling how he used to play with floating clothes while putting them on in the microgravity environment of the ISS, he said: “When I wore clothes, I would throw them in front of me. They floated and then I could put my hand inside them to put them on.”

“I accidentally tried to do the same thing here again, like putting on a shirt. I threw him in front of me, but he fell straight to the ground,” he said, laughing.

“It was one of those weird things where you come from a background where it’s easy to put things anywhere, they float and you can reach out and grab them. But that’s already part of the story.”