Mashable: Sultan Al Neyadi was supposed to be jet-off on February 26

The countdown has begun for UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi’s space mission.

The Emirati astronaut along with his colleagues will soon jet-off to space for Arab world’s first long duration mission.

During the historic space mission, Sultan Al Neyadi is hoping to push the boundaries of science as he is just a few days away from creating history.

Sultan Al Neyadi will be the first Arab astronaut to go on a six-month space mission to International Space Station (ISS).

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission’s original Sunday launch was pushed back by one day. UAE’s Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center took to their official Twitter account and announced the new launch date.

“The new launch date and time of the first Arab long-duration astronaut mission is scheduled for 27 February at 10:45 AM (UAE time),” the tweet read.

The new launch date and time of the first Arab long-duration astronaut mission is scheduled for 27 February at 10:45 AM (UAE time).#UAEMission2#UAEAstronautProgramme pic.twitter.com/FfDORGq7LG

— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) February 21, 2023
The mission, carrying UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi with Crew-6 colleagues including Nasa mission commander Stephen Bowen, Nasa pilot Warren Hoburg, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev will now liftoff from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A, on February 27.

On Tuesday, the UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi and with his crewmates was welcomed at an event at Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

Watch the launch on 26 February. The live coverage will begin from 7:30 AM (UAE time) while the mission will launch at 11:07 AM (UAE time).

Link to the live coverage: https://t.co/tx0n331zSQ#UAEMission2#UAEAstronautProgramme pic.twitter.com/XJ6et30uR7

— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) February 21, 2023
Al Neyadi and his Crew-6 colleagues were seen wearing the typical blue astronaut flight suits when they addressed the media at the John F Kennedy Space Centre.

Astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi, Mission Specialist, Primary Crew, Crew-6, upon his arrival to the Kennedy Space Center: We are ready physically, mentally and technically for this mission, through which we aim to share knowledge and spread enthusiasm for space exploration.#UAEMission2 pic.twitter.com/JqQDL3Cz97

— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) February 21, 2023
Astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi, Mission Specialist, Primary Crew, Crew-6, speaks about the science experiments that the mission team will conduct on the International Space Station.#UAEMission2#UAEAstronautProgramme pic.twitter.com/tD0H0FLJLB

— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) February 21, 2023
According to Khaleej Times, the mission will make the United Arab Emirates only the 11th country in the world to send astronauts on a long-term mission to space where a total of 250 research experiments will be carried out.

Sultan Al Neyadi will conduct at least 20 experiments, fulfill other tasks, and perform maintenance work on the orbiting science laboratory.