Sultan Al Neyadi hopes to carry out missions aboard Nasa's planned Lunar Gateway station

The Emirati astronaut has sights set on the Moon after returning from ISS

President Sheikh Mohamed speaks with employees of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre during a homecoming reception for UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, left, at the new Abu Dhabi International Airport terminal. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, greets members of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed and Maj Gen Essa Al Mazrouei, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, attend a homecoming reception Dr Al Neyadi. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, attend the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed greets Reem Al Neyadi, daughter of Dr Al Neyadi, during the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and Sheikha Hassa bint Mohamed, attend the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed speaks with Dr Al Neyadi at the reception, which comes after the astronaut spent six months at the International Space Station. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, receive Dr Al Neyadi during a homecoming reception at the new Abu Dhabi International Airport. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Dr Al Neyadi greets his father Saif Al Neyadi and his children during the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Hazza Al Mansouri, right, attends the homecoming for Dr Al Neyadi, who spent six months at the International Space Station. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed greets a member of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, attend the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed greets Maj Gen Talal Al Falasi, vice president of the Mohamed bin Rashid Space Centre. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, attend the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, stand for a photograph with Dr Al Neyadi and family members. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, and Sheikha Salama bint Mohamed attend the reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, sit with Hazza Al Mansouri at the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, attends the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, attends the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, and Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, attend the homecoming reception. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed shakes hands with Dr Al Neyadi after he arrived in the UAE. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, stand for a group photo with Dr Al Neyadi. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohamed, Ruler's Representative in Al Ain Region, Hazza Al Mansouri, the first Emirati in space, and astronauts Mohamed Al Mulla and Noura Al Matrooshi were also present. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Dr Al Neyadi greets his children at Abu Dhabi International Airport's new Terminal A. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Dr Al Neyadi return home after six months in space. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

The Emirati astronaut returned to the UAE on Monday. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media

Dr Al Neyadi with his children and father, Saif Al Neyadi, right. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed receives the UAE flag that travelled to the International Space Station with Dr Al Neyadi. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

'Our national flag has made its way to space for the second time,' Dr Al Neyadi told Sheikh Mohamed. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed unfurled the flag for television cameras. UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, and Sheikh Tahnoun with Maj Al Mansouri, Dr Al Neyadi, Mr Al Mulla and Ms Al Matrooshi. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Mansour, Sheikh Tahnoun and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, with Dr Al Neyadi, Maj Al Mansouri, Mr Al Mulla and Ms Al Matrooshi. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid with Dr Al Neyadi. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

From left, Saud Karmustaji, director of strategic communication at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, Dr Al Neyadi, Salem Al Marri, MBRSC director general and Hazza Al Mansouri, the first Emirati in space, speak at Abu Dhabi International Airport's Terminal A. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Dr Al Neyadi is greeted by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. Photo: @MBRSpaceCentre / X

Dr Al Neyadi arrives home. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media

A live-stream took place of Dr Al Neyadi's meeting with UAE Rulers on Monday evening. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Dr Al Neyadi spent six months on the International Space Station. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Preparations were under way from early on Monday for Dr Al Neyadi's arrival at the new Terminal A. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Dr Al Neyadi's plane lands in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media

Awaiting Dr Al Neyadi's arrival at Terminal A. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Dr Al Neyadi, who was born in Al Ain, made history by becoming the first Arab astronaut to perform a spacewalk. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Giant screens were spread across the terminal displaying portraits of the astronaut with messages welcoming him home. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi is hoping that his next voyage to space will include a visit to a planned station in the Moon’s orbit.

Nasa has plans to build a small station – called Lunar Gateway – that would begin to orbit the Moon by the end of this decade.

Astronauts would use the structure as a base before descending to the lunar surface to carry out exploration missions.

Dr Al Neyadi, 42, was speaking at a briefing on Monday, hours after he landed in Abu Dhabi from Houston, Texas.

He received a grand reception in his home country after completing a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station.

“We all know about the Gateway,” Dr Al Neyadi said in a response to a question by The National.

“It's a proposed station that will orbit the Moon, so I would love to be part of it.”

The station is part of Nasa's Artemis programme, which aims to put humans on the Moon for long-term missions.

Space agencies are looking to retire the ISS by the end of this decade due to rising costs and ageing infrastructure. Focus has instead shifted to missions to the Moon and Mars.

The National reported last year that the UAE was exploring ways of helping design the Gateway, including providing an airlock module on the station.

This is an airtight room that astronauts would use to enter and exit the space station.

It would be a turning point for the UAE's space programme, which could help give Emirati astronauts access to the Moon.

Dr Al Neyadi said that training for these kinds of missions is crucial.

“I would to love to go there but it depends on the opportunity and suitability for the mission,” he said.

“As you know, space has a lot of effects. We don't know what could happen. Bodies receive a lot of radiation.

“We're still under the process of identifying what sort of impact the six months in space has had on my body.”

Spend time in nature

Dr Al Neyadi, born and raised in Al Ain, also spoke about what he plans to do now that he is back home.

The father of six wants to spend time in nature and with his children, as well as pray.

His daughter and two of his sons greeted their father on Monday as he exited the aircraft.

“I think it was good to see all of them here and I said hello to all of them,” said Dr Al Neyadi.

“So, if I go to home tonight, I think first thing I'm going to do is sleep and then would love to go out into the nature.

“I would love to pray and spend some quality time with the family. Explain everything to them and answer questions they'll have.”

More missions for Emirati astronauts

The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre hopes to secure missions to the ISS every two to three years.

It also has Hazza Al Mansouri, the first Emirati in space, Nora Al Matrooshi and Mohammed Al Mulla in its astronaut corps.

Ms Al Matrooshi, the first Emirati woman to be selected as an astronaut, and Mr Al Mulla are currently training in Nasa's Johnson Space Centre in Houston.

They will become eligible for missions once they graduate early next year.

Maj Al Mansouri, who spent eight days aboard the ISS in 2019, said at the briefing that he was proud of Dr Al Neyadi.

“In this second mission, we've proved to everyone that if you're dedicated, you can achieve anything,” he said.

“We were happy to see his smile after he landed. This mission wasn't easy – it was six months in space, but it's going be written in history and we're all very proud of this.”