UAE Astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi’s Return to Earth Delayed by NASA Due to Weather
UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi will need to wait a little longer to return to Earth after Nasa and SpaceX delayed a scheduled return journey.
Nasa and SpaceX are standing down from a scheduled Saturday, September 2, departure date for the agency’s Crew-6 mission from the International Space Station.
According to a statement by Nasa, the delay is due to “unfavourable weather conditions near the splashdown sites off the coast of Florida”.
UAE Astronaut Return Delayed
The next available undocking opportunity is no earlier than 7.05am EDT on Sunday, September 3, with a splashdown no earlier than 12.07am on Monday, September 4, pending weather evaluations.
Nasa said: “Mission teams will meet Friday evening to determine the viability of the next Crew-6 undock target.
“The Dragon spacecraft, named Endeavour, remains healthy while currently docked to the space station as Crew-6 prepares for their return trip to Earth completing a nearly six-month science mission in orbit.”
New dates for the next available undocking and landing of the Dragon spacecraft from the International Space Station have been announced.#SafeReturnSultan#ZayedAmbition pic.twitter.com/WFQZrphUla
— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) September 1, 2023
UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi will return along with NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg, as well as Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.
