Dubai: The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) announced that the scheduled return of UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi from the International Space Station (ISS) has been delayed due to unfavourable weather conditions.
US space agency NASA announced the delay, citing unfavorable weather conditions near the splashdown sites off the coast of Florida.
The next available undocking opportunity is no earlier than 3.05 pm in UAE time [7.05 am EDT] on Sunday, September 3, with a splashdown no earlier than 8.05 am in UAE time [12.07 am EDT] on Monday, September 4, pending weather evaluations.
To discuss the situation and confirm the new return date, a meeting has been scheduled for Friday evening, NASA added.
The splashdown was originally scheduled for 8.58 am on Sunday.
The UAE Astronaut Programme is one of the projects managed by MBRSC under the UAE’s National Space Programme and funded by the ICT Fund of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), which aims to support research and development in the ICT sector in the UAE and promote the country’s integration on the global stage.
