Al Neyadi will be launched to the International Space Station on February 19

Dubai: Yamama Badwan

Sultan Al Neyadi, the Emirati astronaut, is preparing to launch to the International Station, on February 19, on the first long-term Arab mission that will last 6 months, 180 days, as part of the “Crow 6” mission, which will launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA. And with the participation of 3 other pioneers, the UAE became the 11th in the world among the countries that complete a long-term mission at the station.

According to SpaceX, its sixth mission will carry two NASA astronauts, Stephen Bowen, the mission commander, and pilot Woody Hoburg, along with two mission specialists, Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi and Russian cosmonaut Andrei Vidyaev.

Al-Neyadi will wear the spacewalk suit, which weighs 130 kg on the ground, and is called the “Extravehicle Mobility Unit” or “EMU”, which requires 45 minutes to be worn, in addition to installing its equipment, helmet and gloves, after that he will enter a pressurized unit to adapt to Low pressure, which is maintained in the suit, since the astronaut must spend over an hour breathing pure oxygen before exiting this pressurized unit.

The spacewalk suit is like a small spacecraft, protecting the astronauts from the harsh conditions outside the International Station, and from space dust, especially as Al-Neyadi is preparing to walk in space to perform tasks and repairs outside the station, which may last eight hours.

The suit’s flexible parts are made up of 16 layers of material, and each layer has a different function, as some retain oxygen, while others protect the pioneer from space dust.