Sultan Al Neyadi's return to Earth delayed until September 2

It will be a 24-hour journey back home, with a splashdown expected off the coast of Florida

Lift-off from Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida, early on March 2, 2023. AFP

The crew-6 board the Dragon spacecraft to take them to the International Space Station. Photo: Nasa screengrab

Sultan Al Neyadi's first A Call with Space video chat with the public, held at Dubai Opera on March 21. Pawan Singh / The National

Dr Al Neyadi captured an image of his hometown of Umm Ghafa in Al Ain on April 12. Photo: Sultan Al Neyadi / X

This photo from space shows The Palm Jumeirah, Jebel Ali Industrial area and residential areas in Dubai. Photo: Sultan Al Neyadi / X

Dr Al Neyadi on March 4, a day after arriving on the ISS. Photo: MBRSC

Dr Al Neyadi takes a selfie from inside the ISS. Photo: Sultan Al Neyadi / X

The eye of Cyclone Biparjoy in footage captured by the UAE astronaut on June 13. Photo: Sultan Al Neyadi

Holding small tomatoes grown on the ISS. Photo: Nasa

Dr Al Neyadi in front of the ISS cupola on March 14. Photo: Nasa

The astronaut captured a massive sandstorm sweeping across the Sahara on March 30. Photo: Sultan Al Neyadi

On April 28 he became the first Arab to perform a spacewalk. Photo: Sultan Al Neyadi / X

He captured a stunning image of the Eye of Sahara - a geological structure made up of ancient rocks - from the ISS on May 4. Sultan Al Neyadi / X

Speaking to students at UAE University in Al Ain on a live call from the ISS on May 23. Ryan Lim / The National

An image of the UAE and Oman taken by the Emirati astronaut on May 24. Photo: Sultan Al Neyadi / X

Sultan Al Neyadi called Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, from the ISS on July 3. Photo: Dubai Media Office

UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi's return to Earth has been delayed by a day to help Nasa and SpaceX adjust their flight schedule on the International Space Station.

Dr Al Neyadi and his three Crew-6 colleagues will depart on Saturday, instead of Friday as initially planned.

The trip home aboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule will take 24 hours, with a splashdown off the coast of Florida on Sunday, September 3.

Their replacement crew, Crew-7, had their launch pushed back by a day, causing the schedule to be changed.

“Another crew is set to return to Earth this weekend after beginning its space station mission in March,” Nasa said.

“Nasa astronaut Stephen Bowen, commander of the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft, will lead Nasa Pilot Woody Hoburg and mission specialists Al Neyadi and Andrey Fedyaev of Roscosmos when they end their mission as Expedition 69 flight engineers.

“The quartet is scheduled to undock Endeavour no earlier than Saturday, September 2, and splashdown off the coast of Florida.”

Crew-7 arrived at the station on Sunday. A handover ceremony will be held in a few days, in which the remaining activities of Dr Al Neyadi and his colleagues will be given to the new ISS residents.

Dr Al Neyadi became the first Arab astronaut to go on an extended mission and the first Arab to perform a spacewalk.

“Sultan and Crew-6 are now preparing to return to Earth, and we are ready to welcome them back,” Salem Al Marri, director general of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, which oversees the UAE's astronaut programme, posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Dr Al Neyadi spent his time on the station conducting more than 200 science investigations and outreach activities.

He will spend his first few days back on Earth undergoing medical tests in the US, before returning to the UAE to attend celebrations.

He will then travel back to the US for more mission debriefing.

Once he is in the UAE for a more extended stay, he will participate in nationwide roadshows to share his experiences.

Nasa will release the schedule of Dr Al Neyadi's return and splashdown at a later date.