- President Sheikh Mohamed hails Sultan Al Neyadi's historic spacewalk
- Sultan Al Neyadi returns to ISS after completing spacewalk
- Nasa troubleshooting technical problem during spacewalk
- Dubai Ruler says he is proud of Sultan Al Neyadi becoming first Arab spacewalker
- First big task of Al Neyadi's spacewalk complete
- Al Neyadi enjoying stunning views of Earth during spacewalk
- Mission control in Houston says Al Neyadi's work during spacewalk 'impressive'
- Sultan Al Neyadi steps out into space, becoming the first Arab spacewalker
Al Neyadi now back inside space station after completing historic spacewalk
UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi has completed his six-and-a-half hour spacewalk, floating into the record books as the first Arab to step out into the darkness of space.
Dr Al Neyadi and his American colleague Stephen Bowen began their spacewalk at 5.11pm GST, when their spacesuits switched to battery power.
He exited the International Space Station at 5.41pm to begin working on two major tasks assigned to him and Mr Bowen by Nasa.
The pair managed to prepare a part of the ISS for a future solar array installation.
Their second big task was to remove an old piece of communication hardware, but it was bolted on too tightly, and they failed to get it off the structure.
Nasa then instructed the duo to head back to the airlock.
That's a wrap
Thank you for joining us for UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi's historic spacewalk. Live coverage will be closing soon.
There will be more to come from The National over the next few months, as Dr Al Neyadi will take part in more than 200 science experiments during his six-month stay aboard the International Space Station.
Follow The National's space editor Sarwat Nasir on Twitter and bookmark our dedicated UAE in Space page for more coverage.
President Sheikh Mohamed hails Sultan Al Neyadi's historic spacewalk
President Sheikh Mohamed has hailed Sultan Al Neyadi's historic spacewalk and said that the UAE continues to make a meaningful contribution to space exploration and science.
The father of six from Al Ain exited the International Space Station on Friday at 5.41pm GST, with Nasa colleague Stephen Bowen, to begin a six-and-a-half-hour maintenance assignment.
He became the first Arab astronaut to perform a spacewalk.
"With this week’s new discoveries by the Hope probe, the achievements of the Rashid rover mission, and Sultan Al Neyadi’s first ever spacewalk by an Arab astronaut, the UAE continues to make a meaningful contribution to space exploration and advancements in science," Sheikh Mohamed said on Twitter.
Sultan Al Neyadi prepares to return to space station after making history
UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi and his American colleague Stephen Bowen are now preparing to re-enter the International Space Station – after completing their six-and-a-half hour spacewalk.
Dr Al Neyadi made history today by becoming the first Arab to perform a spacewalk.
The two astronauts completed multiple tasks, including preparing a part of the ISS for a future solar array installation.
They failed to remove a piece of old communication hardware from the exterior of the structure, despite several attempts.
However, the historic spacewalk went smoothly, with no major technical problems.
Nasa instructs astronauts to abandon final spacewalk task after technical problem
Nasa has instructed Sultan Al Neyadi and Stephen Bowen to abandon the task of removing an old piece of communication hardware, after it failed to detach from the exterior of the International Space Station.
Mr Bowen had been tasked with loosening the eight bolts of the radio frequency unit – which was never designed to be serviced during spacewalks.
Despite the bolts being loosened, the unit did not come free. Nasa then asked Dr Al Neyadi to retrieve a hammer from inside the airlock.
He attempted to knock loose the piece of hardware, while Mr Bowen tried to shake it free, but it still would not budge.
Nasa has now asked the astronauts to tighten the bolts securing the unit back in place, as time is running out to complete the maintenance task.
They must return to the ISS as their spacesuits have only a limited quantity of oxygen.
Dr Al Neyadi and Mr Bowen started their six-and-a-half hour spacewalk at 5.11pm GST.
The piece of hardware was meant to be brought back into the station for refurbishment.
Nasa troubleshooting technical problem during spacewalk
Nasa is currently troubleshooting a technical problem that has occurred during the final task of Sultan Al Neyadi and Stephen Bowen's spacewalk.
The astronauts were attempting to remove an old piece of communication hardware from the exterior of the International Space Station, but it failed to detach.
Mr Bowen was assigned with unbolting the radio frequency unit.
He loosened all eight bolts, but the piece of equipment could still not be removed.
Nasa has now asked Dr Al Neyadi to apply pressure from the other side in a bid to free the bolts further and make it possible remove the hardware.
The device was not designed to be removed during spacewalks.
Dubai Ruler proud of Al Neyadi becoming first Arab spacewalker
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, has said he is proud of Sultan Al Neyadi for becoming the first Arab astronaut to perform a spacewalk.
Dr Al Neyadi set history today, after exiting the International Space Station at 5.41pm GST for a six-and-a-half hour spacewalk.
"After three years of intensive training, today we saw Sultan Al Neyadi on the first mission to walk in outer space, carrying out tasks of installing new parts and maintenance on the International Space Station," Sheikh Mohammed tweeted.
"The first Emirati, first Arab and first Muslim to walk in outer space. Proud of that.
"They say that two-thirds of the stars in the sky bear Arabic names. Arabs are capable, Arabs are coming, Arabs are creative, if we decide to focus on science and invest in youth."
Stunning shot of orbital sunrise as Al Neyadi gets ready for second half of spacewalk
An image has shown the beauty of an orbital sunrise as UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi and American Stephen Bowen prepare for the second half of their spacewalk.
The Canadian robotic arm is set to carry Mr Bowen, so he can remove a piece of communication hardware from the exterior of the International Space Station.
Dr Al Neyadi is assisting Mr Bowen to remove the hardware. The robotic arm will hold Mr Bowen upside down and in different positions so he can complete the work.
This is the second and last big task of the six-and-a-half hour spacewalk.
First big task of Al Neyadi's spacewalk complete
UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi and his American colleague Stephen Bowen have completed the first big task of their six-and-a-half hour spacewalk.
The pair finished preparing a part of the International Space Station for a future solar array installation.
They are now going to retrieve a radio frequency unit - a piece of communication hardware - that is attached on the exterior of the ISS.
Dr Al Neyadi will work to remove a tent that is covering the hardware.
Then the Canadian robotic arm will carry Mr Bowen around, turning him upside down and in different positions to help him unbolt and remove the hardware.
This will be the last task of the spacewalk.
They will bring the hardware into the station and then it will be returned to Earth for repairs.
More than two hours into historic spacewalk
It has been more than two hours since UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi floated into the history books as the first Arab to walk in space.
Dr Al Neyadi and his Nasa colleague Stephen Bowen have already completed a little more than two hours of their six-and-a-half hour spacewalk.
They have already completed routing cables on a part of the International Space Station. They are now installing multi-layer insulation on another part of the structure, helping to prep it for a future roll-out solar array installation.
Later, they will unbolt and retrieve a radio frequency unit.
Al Neyadi to prepare base for future solar array installation on ISS
UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi and his American colleague Stephen Bowen are almost two hours into their spacewalk.
They are now preparing to install cables that will support the future installation of solar arrays on the International Space Station.
So far, the pair have managed to retrieve and install foot restraints that they will be using during the remainder of the six-and-a-half hour spacewalk.
Mission control in Houston said that the astronauts are working quickly, and are ahead of schedule.
They are currently spacewalking in the dark, as the station flies over the Earth's night time.
But, the ISS sees 16 sunrises and sunsets every 90 minutes.
During the other half of the spacewalk, they will unbolt and retrieve a piece of communication hardware.
Mr Bowen will be attached to the Canadian robotic arm on the station, which will help him turn him upside down and in other positions to allow him to unbolt and remove the radio frequency unit from the exterior of the ISS.
Mission control in Houston says Al Neyadi's work during spacewalk 'impressive'
Mission control in Houston has said UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi's repair work so far during his spacewalk is "impressive".
Dr Al Neyadi and his American colleague Stephen Bowen are trying to retrieve foot restraints from the exterior of the International Space Station.
Some of the restraints will be stowed away, while others will be relocated to other parts of the ISS.
"That was impressive, Sultan," a Nasa ground controller told Dr Al Neyadi.
"You have a surgeon's hands."
Doing maintenance work on the exterior of the ISS while wearing bulky spacesuits, especially the gloves, is challenging for astronauts.
Al Neyadi enjoying stunning views of Earth during spacewalk
UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi is enjoying breathtaking views of the Earth during his spacewalk.
Nasa's livestream is broadcasting the views from Dr Al Neyadi's helmet camera, as well as GoPro cameras attached to different parts of the International Space Station.
The Emirati astronaut exited the orbiting laboratory at 5.41pm GST, after American colleague Stephen Bowen, for a six-and-a-half hour spacewalk.
The space station completes an orbit of Earth every 90 minutes, as it flies 400km above the planet at speeds of about 8km per second.
Al Neyadi has become first Arab to walk in space after exiting ISS
UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi has become the first Arab to walk in space.
He emerged from the Quest airlock of the International Space Station on Friday, at 5.41pm GST, for a six-and-a-half hour spacewalk.
Even though the spacewalk has only started, he has still floated his way into the history books as the first Arab to float in the darkness of space.
Dr Al Neyadi and his American colleague Stephen Bowen will be carrying out multiple maintenance tasks during this assignment.
Sultan Al Neyadi edges closer to history
US astronaut Stephen Bowen has exited the International Space Station - leaving Sultan Al Neyadi on the verge of history.
Bowen is embarking on his eighth spacewalk, setting the scene for the UAE's Dr Al Neyadi to become the first in the Arab world to complete the feat.
Dr Al Neyadi is assisting his colleague in handing out bags and other equipment from inside the station.
The father-of-six remains in the Quest airlock, the final waiting zone before floating into space.
He will soon step into the record books himself.
Sultan Al Neyadi now waiting to exit from airlock
UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi and his American colleague Stephen Bowen are now in the Quest airlock of the International Space Station.
This is the final waiting zone before they exit the station into the darkness of space to begin their six-and-a-half hour spacewalk.
Their spacesuits will now undergo decompression and leak checks, so that they are ready for the environment of space.
Viewers of Nasa's livestream can hear the communication between the astronauts and mission control in Houston, Texas.
Dr Al Neyadi could be heard speaking.
Sultan Al Neyadi is now in his spacesuit
UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi and his American colleague Stephen Bowen are now in their spacesuits, ready for a spacewalk at 5.15pm GST.
They are in the "waiting room" on the International Space Station, an area that provides an environment where astronauts can get rid of nitrogen from their bloodstream.
It also helps them avoid decompression sickness while they are in the low-pressure, pure-oxygen atmosphere of the spacesuit.
Nasa astronauts Frank Rubio and Woody Hoburg are assisting the pair with their spacesuits and spacewalk today.
Animation shows how Sultan Al Neyadi will perform his first spacewalk on Friday
A Nasa animation has shown the advanced tasks UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi will have to perform on his spacewalk on Friday.
International Space Station managers at Nasa spoke about what the astronauts' spacewalk will involve during an online media briefing on Monday, and released the animation video.
Inside the Nasa centre where astronauts train for spacewalks
Astronauts assigned to carry out spacewalks must first spend several hours in one of the world's largest indoor pools, to practise for the daunting task.
The 12-metre pool is inside the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory at the Sonny Carter Training Facility in Houston, Texas.
"The NBL serves as the perfect training centre for astronauts as they prepare for their space flight missions," Nasa said.
"Although astronauts do not achieve true weightlessness in the NBL, the simulations do provide each crew member with a solid spacewalking foundation which better prepares them for the extravehicular activities they will conduct in zero gravity."