Mashable: Sultan Al Neyadi blasted off to the International Space Station (ISS) on March 3, 2023

Emirati astronaut-turned-minister Dr Sultan Al Neyadi celebrated one year of his historic space mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday, March 3, 2024.

The United Arab Emirates-based astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi blasted off to the International Space Station (ISS) on March 3, 2023, for the “longest Arab space mission.”

The 42-year-old Emirati became the first Arab to stay on the International Space Station (ISS) for a 6-month mission, as part of Expedition 69. He is also the first Arab to perform a spacewalk.

A year ago, I experienced my first moments aboard the ISS. I still recall each moment in microgravity with the crew. This anniversary also comes just two days before the graduation of @Astronaut_Nora & @Astro_AlMulla from NASA’s Astronaut Candidate Class. The journey continues. pic.twitter.com/gUYX6sl45h — Sultan AlNeyadi (@Astro_Alneyadi) March 3, 2024

Dr. Neyadi took to X/ Twitter and recalled his experience with microgravity. “A year ago, I experienced my first moments aboard the ISS. I still recall each moment in microgravity with the crew,” he wrote.

Sending a special message to Nora Al Matrooshi and Al Matrooshi, the two new astronauts all set to graduate in a couple of days, he added, “This anniversary also comes just two days before the graduation of @Astronaut_Nora and @Astro_AlMulla from NASA’s Astronaut Candidate Class. The journey continues.”

"We have reached the International Space Station." It's been a year since astronaut H.E. Dr. Sultan AlNeyadi mentioned those words, marking the start of the longest Arab space mission in history.
#ZayedAmbition pic.twitter.com/qWj9W6xdyF — MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) March 3, 2024

On March 3, 2023, I watched the launch of the longest Arab space mission in history alongside my MBRSC colleagues in the USA, marking astronaut H.E. Dr. Sultan AlNeyadi's arrival to the ISS.

A year after that milestone, we gather again to celebrate the graduation of… pic.twitter.com/KDeuMKihDb — Salem AlMarri سالم حميد المري (@Salem_HAlMarri) March 3, 2024

A year ago, I experienced my first moments aboard the ISS. I still recall each moment in microgravity with the crew. This anniversary also comes just two days before the graduation of @Astronaut_Nora & @Astro_AlMulla from NASA’s Astronaut Candidate Class. The journey continues. pic.twitter.com/gUYX6sl45h — Sultan AlNeyadi (@Astro_Alneyadi) March 3, 2024

Today, we commemorate the 1-year anniversary of the longest Arab space mission in history. 

We celebrate the efforts of @Astro_Alneyadi and the team. Proud to be part of this historic mission and to continue our work with Sultan, @Astronaut_Nora, and @Astro_AlMulla. pic.twitter.com/HXGzccRPQK — Hazzaa AlMansoori (@astro_hazzaa) March 3, 2024

3 March 2023 marked a historic moment as we witnessed the realisation of Zayed's Ambition for the second time. This day continues to inspire us to meet new objectives of the UAE Astronaut Programme. pic.twitter.com/YaozM2ycN7 — Mohammad AlMulla (@Astro_Almulla) March 3, 2024

Dr Al Neyadi was part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission that launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on March 2, 2023, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew docked to the International Space Station the next day.

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) today announced that astronauts Nora AlMatrooshi and Mohammad AlMulla, from the second batch of the UAE Astronaut Programme, will graduate from the 2021 NASA Astronaut Candidate Class training programme on March 5 at the Johnson Space… pic.twitter.com/KKJ1BkHK2R — Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 1, 2024

Meanwhile, the Dubai-based Mohammad Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) recently announced that Emirati astronauts Nora Al Matrooshi and Mohammad Al Mulla will graduate from the 2021 NASA Astronaut Candidate Class training programme on March 5, 2024, at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston, US. The two are from the second batch of the UAE Astronaut Programme.