Mashable: The launch date is slated for February 26, 2023

UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi to lift off for space mission in February

Sultan Al Neyadi will join the SpaceX Crew-6 mission which is scheduled for launch from Florida’s Kennedy Space Centre.

On Thursday, February 19, 2023, the UAE’s Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) took to Twitter and announced an update to the launch date of the first Arab long-duration astronaut mission.

“Update: The launch date of the first Arab long-duration astronaut mission is scheduled no earlier than 26 February 2023. The 6-month mission, on board the International Space Station, will include different scientific experiments and research,” the tweet read.

Update: The launch date of the first Arab long-duration astronaut mission is scheduled no earlier than 26 February 2023. The 6-month mission, on board the International Space Station, will include different scientific experiments and research.#UAEAstronautProgramme pic.twitter.com/sPC9GxCG3h

— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) January 19, 2023
As per Khaleej Times, the six-month-long mission will include a series of experiments and research. The mission will also be focused on important scientific findings about outer space.

Sultan AlNeyadi will conduct several in-depth and advanced scientific experiments during the mission as it is a part of the ‘UAE Astronaut Programme’. The programme aims to train and prepare a team of astronauts before sending them into space for various scientific missions.

Sultan AlNeyadi will be part of Nasa’s SpaceX Crew-6 and will serve as a flight engineer once aboard the ISS. Joining him on the mission will be Nasa astronauts Stephen Bowen, Warren Hoburg, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.

This mission will be the first space trip for all crew members, except Stephen Bowen who will be travelling to space for the fourth time.

As per Nasa, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft named Endeavour which is mated atop a Falcon 9 rocket will carry the astronauts. It is scheduled to launch from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, USA.