A week on the space station: What has astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi been up to?

From getting used to microgravity, harvesting tomatoes and taking pictures — it has been a busy seven days for the Emirati astronaut

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  Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi has released more images of his historic space walk from the International Space Station on social media. @Astro_Alneyadi twitter

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  On Friday, Dr Al Neyadi became the Arab world's first astronaut to make space walk when he joined US astronaut Steve Bowen on ISS maintenance. @Astro_Alneyadi twitter

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  Dr Al Neyadi spent more than six hours outside the space station. @Astro_Alneyadi twitter

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  Photos of Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi's space walk show him completing what Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, described as a 'remarkable' accomplishment. @Astro_Alneyadi twitter

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  Sultan Al Neyadi, UAE Astronaut showing water during his first ‘ A Call with Space’ video chat with the public held at Dubai Opera in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

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  Nasa astronaut Frank Rubio gives UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi a haircut on board the International Space Station. Photo: MBRSC

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  Sultan Al Neyadi shares images of sandstorm in Sahara Desert from space

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  Sultan Al Neyadi shares images of sandstorm in Sahara Desert from space

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  Dr Sultan Al Neyadi shared a video showing Cairo from space. Image: Screengrab

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  Sultan Al Neyadi shows breathtaking views of the crescent moon from space.

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  Astronaut Koichi Wakata and Sultan Al Neyadi inside the International Space Station's Quest airlock. Nasa

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  Sultan Al Neyadi, UAE Astronaut during his first ‘ A Call with Space’ video chat with the public held at Dubai Opera in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

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  Dr Al Neyadi carries out experiments at the Columbus laboratory. Photo: Sultan Al Neyadi@Twitter

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  UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi in the Japanese KIBO module of the ISS. Photo: MBRSC

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  UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi has shared his first selfies taken from inside the International Space Station. Photo: Sultan Al Neyadi Twitter

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  The images were snapped in front of the cupola - an observatory on the station - that shows stunning views of the Earth. Photo: Sultan Al Neyadi Twitter

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  This photo provided by NASA shows Emerati astronaut Sultan al-Neyadi during an interview at the International Space Station on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. The first Arab astronaut assigned to a long spaceflight is still adjusting to life off the planet, five days after rocketing to the International Space Station. (NASA via AP)

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  Sultan Al Neyadi’s, UAE Astronaut, speaking from ISS to UAE leaders. photo: Video screen grab / Nasa

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  In this image from NASA TV, the four astronauts including United Arab Emirates' Sultan al-Neyadi, third left gather, during the welcoming ceremony, on the International Space Station, Friday, March 3, 2023. A new crew from the United States, Russia and United Arab Emirates has arrived at the International Space Station. The new arrivals include United Arab Emirates' Sultan al-Neyadi, the first astronaut from the Arab world who will spend an extended time in space. Al-Neyadi is only the second person from the UAE to rocket into orbit. (NASA TV via AP)

UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi has completed a full week on the International Space Station.

He arrived at the orbiting science laboratory on March 3 and has since been enjoying stunning views of Earth, apart from running science experiments and carrying out maintenance works.

Dr Al Neyadi, 41, will remain on the station for six months as part of the Arab world’s first long-duration space mission.

During his time there, he will take part in more than 200 experiments assigned by Nasa and 19 by UAE universities, and possibly perform the first spacewalk by an Arab astronaut.

Now that Dr Al Neyadi has completed seven days in space, The National takes a look at his activities there so far.

Space farming

Dr Al Neyadi's first work activity on the station resembles a scene from the Hollywood movie, The Martian, when Matt Damon, who played the role of a botanist, harvests potatoes.

The Emirati astronaut harvested tomatoes for his scientific work and for the crew's consumption.

Astronauts have been growing fruits and vegetables in space for many years. This is vital to meeting the goal of establishing a base on the Moon or other planets, and also helps to reduce their dependence on resupply missions sent from Earth.

In August 2015, red romaine lettuce became the first vegetable to be grown in space, proving to be a tastier alternative to the packaged space food astronauts have to eat.

The plants and vegetables were grown mainly to study how they fared in a microgravity environment and whether they could also provide astronauts with a sustainable food source in future.

A preflight view of a ‘Red Robin’ dwarf tomato plant growing at the Kennedy Space Centre. Photo: Nasa

The astronauts ate half of the batch and the rest were brought back to Earth.

Since then, astronauts have grown three types of lettuce, Chinese cabbage, mizuna mustard, red Russian kale and zinnia flowers.

Tomatoes were planted on the ISS last year, helping astronauts to test fertiliser techniques and assess microbial food safety, nutritional value and taste.

They are being grown in the Advanced Plant Habitat, a chamber on the ISS used to carry out plant research.

Space biology and medicine

Dr Al Neyadi has also been spending time on the Japanese Kibo module, a section of the ISS where astronauts can carry out science experiments.

“Astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi and his Crew-6 colleagues have started to work on their tasks aboard the ISS,” the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre tweeted on Wednesday, along with pictures of him inside the module.

“Sultan is seen in the Japanese KIBO module, which hosts experiments that focus on different fields, including space medicine, biology and Earth observation.”

Some of his other science experiments on the station will include studying how certain materials burn in a microgravity environment and carrying out research to find out how space affects heart tissue.

Getting used to microgravity

When astronauts arrive on the ISS, they are first given an extended sleep time to help them to adjust to microgravity.

The body and mind experiences several changes as blood rushes upwards.

“In space, there's a much different result. There's no gravity to pull blood into the lower part of the body,” Nasa said.

“Instead, blood goes to the chest and head, causing astronauts to have puffy faces and bulging blood vessels in their necks.”

Dr Al Neyadi told Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, in a phone call that he was adjusting well to microgravity.

“One of the scientific experiments is us, Your Highness. Astronauts in microgravity are also subjects of experiments. One day people will go to the Moon and Mars. We have to understand the effects of microgravity on our bodies,” he said.

“This is one of the experiments that we conduct on a daily basis. We monitor the impact and the effects of space on our bodies so we can avoid this in the future.”

When astronauts return to Earth, they can feel dizzy and nauseous as blood rushes back to their legs.

Views from the station

The cupola — an observatory on the ISS — is the most popular spot on the station among astronauts.

The dome gives breathtaking views of Earth, as the station circles the planet 16 times a day.

Dr Al Neyadi shared a video of himself on Thursday floating across the ISS to reach the cupola while they were over Africa. He also shared his selfies in front of the window.

“Sharing with you my first views of Earth from the Cupola Observational Module aboard the ISS,” he tweeted.

“The further we journey from Earth, the more we realise just how precious it truly is.

“Let us cherish and preserve this incredible planet we call home.”