• UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi at a Nasa press conference. Photo: Nasa
    UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi at a Nasa press conference. Photo: Nasa
  • Dr Al Neyadi and his SpaceX/Nasa Crew-6 colleagues speak at a press conference in Houston. Photo: Nasa
    Dr Al Neyadi and his SpaceX/Nasa Crew-6 colleagues speak at a press conference in Houston. Photo: Nasa
  • Dr Al Neyadi (R) in a Dragon capsule during a training session. Photo: Nasa / SpaceX
    Dr Al Neyadi (R) in a Dragon capsule during a training session. Photo: Nasa / SpaceX
  • (L-R) Mission specialist Andrey Fedyaev, pilot William Hoburg, commander Stephen Bowen and Dr Al Neyadi. Photo: Nasa / SpaceX
    (L-R) Mission specialist Andrey Fedyaev, pilot William Hoburg, commander Stephen Bowen and Dr Al Neyadi. Photo: Nasa / SpaceX
  • Dr Al Neyadi (R) with colleagues who are part of the SpaceX Crew-6 mission. Photo: Nasa / SpaceX
    Dr Al Neyadi (R) with colleagues who are part of the SpaceX Crew-6 mission. Photo: Nasa / SpaceX
  • Dr Al Neyadi training inside a Dragon mock-up crew vehicle at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California. Photo: Nasa / SpaceX
    Dr Al Neyadi training inside a Dragon mock-up crew vehicle at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California. Photo: Nasa / SpaceX
  • Dr Al Neyadi training. Photo: Nasa / SpaceX
    Dr Al Neyadi training. Photo: Nasa / SpaceX
  • Dr Al Neyadi training in a centrifuge, a robotic machine that simulates gravitational forces. Photo: Sultan Al Neyadi Twitter
    Dr Al Neyadi training in a centrifuge, a robotic machine that simulates gravitational forces. Photo: Sultan Al Neyadi Twitter
  • The SpaceX Crew-6 team. Photo: Nasa / SpaceX
    The SpaceX Crew-6 team. Photo: Nasa / SpaceX
  • At the launch site in Florida. Photo: Nasa / SpaceX
    At the launch site in Florida. Photo: Nasa / SpaceX
  • Pointers for success from Dr Al Neyadi, with Mr Fedyaev. Photo: Nasa / SpaceX
    Pointers for success from Dr Al Neyadi, with Mr Fedyaev. Photo: Nasa / SpaceX

UAE and Saudi astronauts could be on board International Space Station together in 2023


Sarwat Nasir
  • English
  • Arabic

Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi could be joined by two Saudi colleagues during his stay on the International Space Station next year.

Dr Al Neyadi, 41, a former IT professional from Al Ain, was chosen for the milestone six-month mission in July.

He will blast off next spring on a Falcon 9 SpaceX rocket bound for the floating science laboratory, as part of the Nasa/SpaceX Crew-6 mission. This will be the Arab world’s first long-duration space mission.

Two Saudis, yet to be identified, are expected to take off in the second quarter of 2023 for a two-week stay on the station, as part of the Ax-2 private crew mission, Reuters reported.

Axiom Space, a US-based space company, has helped both countries to secure these trips.

Historic achievement beckons

If things go as planned, the two Saudi astronauts would be the first from the kingdom to reach the ISS ― 37 years after the nation launched the first Arab into space on Nasa's Discovery space shuttle.

It will also mark the first time astronauts from two different Arab countries will be in space together, including the first Arab female astronaut from Saudi Arabia.

Michael Suffredini, president of Axiom Space, said that Saudi Arabia’s mission will expand human space flight opportunities to a larger share of the international community.

"Space belongs to all of humanity, which is one of the reasons Axiom Space is pleased to welcome our new partnership with the Saudi Space Commission to train and fly Saudi astronauts, including the first female Saudi astronaut,” he said earlier this month when the announcement was made.

Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud reads the Quran during his 1985 mission as a payload specialist on board the American STS-51-G space shuttle.
Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud reads the Quran during his 1985 mission as a payload specialist on board the American STS-51-G space shuttle.

Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan bin Salman became the first Arab astronaut in 1985, on board the American STS-51-G space shuttle, but a long-term space programme was not undertaken by the kingdom after that mission.

It was a milestone mission for the Arab and Islamic world, with photos showing Prince Sultan reading the Quran and praying on board the space shuttle.

No other Arab astronaut reached space until 2019, when the UAE's Maj Hazza Al Mansouri travelled to the ISS.

Maj Al Mansouri, a former fighter jet pilot, lived on the station for a week and carried out 16 science experiments.

He wore the kandura, a traditional Emirati dress, and gave a live tour of the station in Arabic for the first time.

Now Dr Al Neyadi is training for his trip to the ISS.

The UAE’s astronaut corps has four members so far, with the other two being Mohammed Al Mulla and Nora Al Matrooshi, a female astronaut.

Saudi Arabia announced the launch of its astronaut programme on its National Day on September 22, 2022.

Axiom Space has already completed the AX-1 mission, the first all-private crew to the space station.

The privately funded mission launched on April 8 and landed back on Earth on April 25.

US commercial companies are helping create access to space for countries that do not have launch capabilities.

Turkey also secured a mission for one of its citizens through Axiom, with a launch expected late next year to coincide with the nation's centenary.

This would be Turkey's first astronaut in space.

The country launched its ambitious 10-year space plan in 2021, which includes Moon exploration.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
  • Flexible work arrangements
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Director: Scott Cooper

Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong

Rating: 4/5

What is blockchain?

Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.

The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.

Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.

However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.

Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.

The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

Electric scooters: some rules to remember
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FIXTURES

All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT)

Tuesday
Mairobr v Liverpool
Spartak Moscow v Sevilla
Feyenoord v Shakhtar Donetsk
Manchester City v Napoli
Monaco v Besiktas
RB Leipzig v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Borussia Dortmund
Real Madrid v Tottenham Hotspur

Wednesday
Benfica v Manchester United
CSKA Moscow v Basel
Bayern Munich v Celtic
Anderlecht v Paris Saint-Germain
Qarabag v Atletico Madrid
Chelsea v Roma
Barcelona v Olympiakos
Juventus v Sporting Lisbon

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

At Eternity’s Gate

Director: Julian Schnabel

Starring: Willem Dafoe, Oscar Isaacs, Mads Mikkelsen

Three stars

Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Rating: 4/5
About RuPay

A homegrown card payment scheme launched by the National Payments Corporation of India and backed by the Reserve Bank of India, the country’s central bank

RuPay process payments between banks and merchants for purchases made with credit or debit cards

It has grown rapidly in India and competes with global payment network firms like MasterCard and Visa.

In India, it can be used at ATMs, for online payments and variations of the card can be used to pay for bus, metro charges, road toll payments

The name blends two words rupee and payment

Some advantages of the network include lower processing fees and transaction costs

What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE

Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.

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Squid Game season two

Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk 

Stars:  Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun

Rating: 4.5/5

Profile

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Date started: December 2015

Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan

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THE LOWDOWN

Photograph

Rating: 4/5

Produced by: Poetic License Motion Pictures; RSVP Movies

Director: Ritesh Batra

Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malhotra, Farrukh Jaffar, Deepak Chauhan, Vijay Raaz

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Day 4, Dubai Test: At a glance

Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage appeared to have been hard done by when he had his dismissal of Sami Aslam chalked off for a no-ball. Replays suggested he had not overstepped. No matter. Two balls later, the exact same combination – Gamage the bowler and Kusal Mendis at second slip – combined again to send Aslam back.

Stat of the day Haris Sohail took three wickets for one run in the only over he bowled, to end the Sri Lanka second innings in a hurry. That was as many as he had managed in total in his 10-year, 58-match first-class career to date. It was also the first time a bowler had taken three wickets having bowled just one over in an innings in Tests.

The verdict Just 119 more and with five wickets remaining seems like a perfectly attainable target for Pakistan. Factor in the fact the pitch is worn, is turning prodigiously, and that Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers have also been finding the strip to their liking, it is apparent the task is still a tough one. Still, though, thanks to Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed, it is possible.

Updated: October 01, 2022, 7:07 AM