UAE astronaut Sultan Al-Neyadi embarks on Arab world’s first spacewalk

• No other Arab national has flown higher without the aid of a spacecraft
• Al-Neyadi joins elite group of 259 astronauts to have stepped outside ISS

RIYADH: UAE astronaut, Sultan Al-Neyadi, is making history on Friday as he becomes the first Arab astronaut to perform a spacewalk.

The spacewalk 408km above the earth’s surface makes him the highest flying Arab national in history.

Counting down the hours until we pass through the ISS airlock into space. Wearing the spacesuit and proudly bearing the UAE flag on my arm, I will soon be undertaking the Arab world’s first spacewalk. Wish us luck! pic.twitter.com/nEkpPGZreK

— Sultan AlNeyadi (@Astro_Alneyadi) April 28, 2023

Al-Neyadi, 41, ventured outside the International Space Station with astronaut Stephen Bowen for six-and-a-half hours. Their mission involves replacing communication hardware installed on the exterior of the orbiting science laboratory. Al-Neyadi is wearing what is known as an EMU spacesuit which is specially designed for spacewalks and is made with up to 16 layers of material.

Live coverage of the first Arab spacewalk in history, conducted by astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi.#ZayedAmbition#FirstArabSpacewalk pic.twitter.com/dqUcK5zGli

— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) April 28, 2023

He joins an elite group of just 259 astronauts to have stepped outside the ISS since its construction began in 1998.