Sultan Al Neyadi asks public to explain physics problem on space station

The Emirati astronaut demonstrates how objects move in unusual ways

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

UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi has asked people to explain a rare physics event that took place on the International Space Station.

He was seen spinning an iPad three times but on the last spin the device rotated in different directions as opposed to the constant movement on the first two occasions.

Dr Al Neyadi, 41, demonstrated the intermediate axis theorem in space, also known as the Dzhanibekov effect or the Tennis Racket Theorem, which was discovered by Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Dzhanibekov on the MIR space station in 1985.

"This question is for the smart ones," he said in a video posted on his Twitter on Monday. "An object's movement is as shown in these three cases.

"Have you noticed that in the third case, the direction of movement kept on changing unlike the first two cases where the direction remained the same. Can you tell me why?"

The theory states that objects, except for ones that are circular and square, have two axes and when that object rotates, it spins in a stable condition.

But when the rotation happens around the intermediate axis, it is unstable, causing it to spin in a different direction than expected.

And when this is done in microgravity, the physics phenomenon is even more fascinating.

Dr Al Neyadi arrived on the ISS on March 3 for a six-month stay and has already begun some of the 219 science experiments assigned to him by Nasa and UAE universities.

He harvested tomatoes that were planted by a Nasa astronaut in December, as part of a botany investigation and also for crew consumption.

Fresh supplies are being sent on Wednesday on a SpaceX cargo resupply mission, which will deliver experiments, food and other items to the new astronauts on board.

There were 11 people on the ISS, but four departed this weekend and landed safely back on Earth.

Crew members include station commander Sergey Prokopyev, flight engineer Dmitri Petelin, both from Roscosmos, and Nasa flight engineer Frank Rubio.

They were supposed to return to Earth last month but the Soyuz spacecraft on which they had arrived suffered severe damage from a micrometeorite.

A replacement Soyuz was sent and will bring the astronauts back home in September.

This means the crew will complete a year in space and replacements will be sent as they return.

On May 12, four private astronauts, including two from Saudi Arabia, will travel to the ISS for a 10-day stay.

The Axiom-2 mission will lift off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

The Saudi astronauts are Ali Al Qarni and Rayyanah Barnawi, who is set to become the first Arab woman in space.

This will bring the number of Arabs in space together simultaneously to a record of three.

Sultan Al Neyadi's life on the International Space Station - in pictures

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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)