The UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, who is on the longest Arab space mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), had a life support maintenance appointment with the laboratory module ‘Destiny’.
Yesterday morning, Al Neyadi and NASA astronaut Steven Bowen collaborated on life support equipment inside the Destiny laboratory module, according to NASA. The pair took turns obtaining water samples and replacing oxygen generation system components aboard the Destiny.
Destiny, the US Laboratory Module, is the primary research laboratory for US payloads, supporting a broad range of experiments and studies that contribute to global health, safety, and quality of life. On the International Space Station, scientists have a unique opportunity to test physical processes in zero gravity.
NASA stated, “The results of these experiments will enable scientists to gain a deeper understanding of our world and ourselves, as well as prepare us for future missions.”
Exciting endeavor
In April, the ‘Sultan of Space’ participated in a heart experiment in Destiny, which he characterized as one of the most exciting experiments prior to his launch to the International Space Station. He examined heart tissue samples under a microscope in the laboratory module to observe microgravity-induced changes in heart cells and learn how to prevent cardiac disorders on Earth and in space.
Friday’s historic spacewalk was the last assignment Al Neyadi and Bowen completed together before working on the most recent life support maintenance.
After seven hours and one minute, the tandem concluded the 261st spacewalk or Extravehicular Activity (EVA) in the vacuum of space outside the ISS. For the installation of the next pair of iROSAs, the spacewalkers had laid cables and installed insulation on mounting brackets on the station’s starboard truss.
Bowen accomplished his eighth EVA in his career, while Al Neyadi completed the first spacewalk by an Arab astronaut.
Next major duty
Tuesday was spent preparing for their next significant mission, the relocation of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft that brought them to the International Space Station.
They will join the other two crew members of their Crew-6 team, NASA astronaut Woody Hoburg and Andrey Fedyaev of Roscosmos, for this mission on Saturday.
NASA stated that the four crew members will board the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour and relocate the spacecraft to a new space station port. NASA flight engineers Bowen and Hoburg will command and steer the Endeavour, flanked by Al Neyadi and Fedosov.
The quartet will undock from the space-facing port of the Harmony module at 7:10 a.m. (3:10 p.m. UAE time) and then redock at 7:53 a.m. (3:53 a.m. UAE time).
Tuesday, the Crew-6 astronauts, who are now a part of Expedition 69, reunited and inspected the pressure suits they will wear during their brief journey inside Dragon. NASA reported that the crew reviewed their relocation procedures, inspected vehicle hatches, and configured the spacecraft cabin.
Saturday at 6:00 a.m. (2:00 p.m. GST), NASA Television will commence its live coverage of the Dragon relocation.