LIVE: First UAE flag spotted in space off ISS – News

Get live updates as Space Sultan makes giant leap for UAE and Arab world

Proudly wearing the UAE flag on his sleeve, Sultan Al Neiyadi is taking a big step for the Arab world. Today, he is making history by becoming the first Arab astronaut to perform a spacewalk.

It’s a mission the Space Sultan has long prepared for, but more importantly, it’s a big dream he’s been hoping to turn into reality.

He will float in space for about 6 hours and 30 minutes, completing a mission that only astronauts who have undergone years of training and hard work can accomplish.

harrij times Let me introduce you to this historic moment in detail. Here are live updates:

Most spacewalks are performed in pairs. An astronaut is the lead spacewalker, keeping track of the pace, safety and completion of the entire spacewalk.

In May 1996, during the maiden flight of the US space shuttle Endeavour, for the first and only time, three astronauts ventured into space simultaneously.

In the image above, we can see AlNeyadi (right, with the UAE flag on his left sleeve) with Bowen to his left.

7.25pm​​: Another view from Sudan’s helmet camera

Being in space is truly an exhilarating and unique experience, as Hazzaa AlMansoori said, “the only thing between you and the earth is the mask” in a previous report Khaleej era.

Throughout the spacewalk, astronauts check gloves and helmets about every 90 minutes — to make sure there’s no water in the helmet or tears in the gloves.

Why is this important? The problem is, not everything on the outside of the ISS is perfectly smooth. Astronaut gloves are potentially dangerous, especially when spacewalkers use carefully placed handrails to move around the space station.

Because of this, astronauts check their gloves regularly during each spacewalk, according to NASA. The ground team will also monitor the astronauts’ oxygen levels, cooling water, battery charge and carbon dioxide removal.

7.02pm: Look! getting brighter (and hotter)

Here’s the second orbital sunrise aboard the International Space Station during the Expedition 69 spacewalk:

It can get as high as 121 degrees Celsius in the sun – that’s Almost three times the temperature in summer in the UAE.

6.57pm: The sun rises (again)

The station is now flying over the North Pacific Ocean — and soon, the sun will rise again.

Remember, there are 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets in 24 hours in space. Sultan AlNeyadi once said here.

6.53pm: It’s cold out there

Spacewalking astronauts AlNeyadi and Bowen are now working in the dark, with lights only peeking through their helmets. temperature? It’s very cold in there – it’s down to -121C now!

Don’t worry though, their spacesuits are designed like a tiny spaceship (shaped like a human body) to protect them from the dangers of space.

6.41pm: Let’s talk suits

AlNeyadi’s spacewalk suit is 16 layers thick! It has a life support system – including a water tank, a radio and a cooling suit – plus the gloves have heaters.

Here is a breakdown of its key components:

6.30pm: First spacewalk

On March 18, 1965, Russian cosmonaut Alexei Leonov became the first human to “spacewalk”. he is:

6.12pm: UAE flag in space!

Here’s the UAE flag seen outside the orbiting International Space Station – a first for the UAE:

AlNeyadi and Hazzaa AlMansoori trained for several months at NASA’s Johnson Space Center’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) in Houston to familiarize themselves with microgravity and perform this historic spacewalk — a tribute to the Arab world first spacewalk.

As the two astronauts moved to relocate the Articulated Portable Foot Restraint (APFR) after securing the cables, the NASA team was heard praising Sudan for the good work it has done so far.

“He’s got a surgeon’s hand,” quipped the team.

He replied, “Thank you!”

5.55pm: Earth through the eyes of the Sultan!

Astronauts have said it time and time again: Earth is breathtaking to see from space. Now let’s look at Sultan Arneyadi’s own helmet. This is how he sees Earth now:

The International Space Station is currently circling the South Atlantic Ocean.

5.53pm: Hot lid closed

Here’s the UAE astronaut confirming the lid is closed:

Sultan is closing the heat shield.

Because it was his first spacewalk, he had more time to maneuver outside — in the vacuum of space.

5.45pm: NASA congratulates UAE

As Sultan AlNeyadi stepped out of the International Space Station, the NASA team said:

“Congratulations to the UAE for flying its flag outside the International Space Station for the first time. “

5.39pm: Big step for the Arab world

Wearing a white striped suit, Sultan Al Neyadi began his 6.5-hour spacewalk, a historic feat.

A ground control team at NASA’s Johnson Center checks that spacewalking astronauts are strapped on SAFER (EVA Simplified Assistance to Rescue), a backpack system (jetpack) worn during a spacewalk that is used only in emergency case use.

5.27pm: 15 minute spacewalk

Bowen sets up a GoPro outside the International Space Station; AlNeyadi hands him the tool for the spacewalk:

The International Space Station orbits the Earth every 90 minutes, which means AlNeyadi and Bowen will experience sunrise and sunset every 45 minutes.

5.20pm: Sudan handover

Sultan AlNeyadi, who has not stepped out of the International Space Station, is currently delivering tools to Steve Bowen:

5.12pm: First spacewalker emerges

Chief spacewalker Steve Bowen was the first person to step out of the International Space Station. He was wearing a suit with red stripes. Sultan AlNeyadi will be next.

The doors to the International Space Station are now open – and in 5 minutes, the astronauts will step out for a spacewalk.

Flight engineer Woody Hoburg said: “Congratulations Sultan, you are making history today”

The longest spacewalk was done in 2001, at 8 hours and 56 minutes. The shortest was 12 minutes in 2009.

A total of 260 spacewalks have been performed on the International Space Station so far:

4.53pm: Sultan trains for more than 3 years for this epic moment

Salem AlMarri, head of Dubai’s Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC), said last night that he was “confident” that Sudan was ready for the mission. In fact, he’s been training for three years for this moment, says AlMarri:

4.46pm: Everything looks good!

The leak check is complete. Things continue to go smoothly as far as the two astronauts prepare to open the hatch and eventual evacuation.

The mission’s chief EVA flight supervisor, Scot Stover, said the team was “very excited for Sudan and our Emirati friends – giving them the opportunity to have a fantastic experience”.

4.40pm: Meanwhile, on Earth, another astronaut is at work

Emirati astronaut Hazzaa AlMansoori, the first Emirati in space in 2019, now serves as Expedition 69’s Increment Leader. He monitored the mission from NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

NASA flight engineers Frank Rubio and Woody Hoberg help Sultan Alneyadi (now ready to go) on the International Space Station exploring the joint airlock.

They also examined a backpack system called SAFER (Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue), a self-contained jetpack worn during spacewalks for emergencies

4.31pm: Crew prepares for decompression

Astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi and his teammate Stephen Bowel had to breathe pure oxygen for more than an hour after donning their spacesuits before they could emerge from the pressurized chamber.

4.30pm: AlNeyadi is ready to go

Here he is, asking us all to wish them luck: