I would love to go to the moon, says UAE astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi

Once an astronaut, always an astronaut.

The UAE astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi’s feelings are no different as he wants to explore space far and beyond after his historic mission.

The Sultan of Space returned to Earth from his six-month journey to the International Space Station earlier this year. Following an initial rehabilitation process, the Emirati astronaut returned to a hero’s welcome to his homeland on Monday. And, the Sultan of Space is ready to embark on the next space mission.

“Honestly, I see myself as a ready astronaut to go on any mission. Personally, I would love to go to the moon and to Mars, if possible. I don’t think it is going to happen sooner to Mars. The lunar is closer to accessible,” AlNeyadi said during a press briefing after his landing at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

“Our first mission was in 2019 and it’s now 2023 … There may be journeys to the Moon or the International Space Station (ISS) and we are ready for any journey,” he said.

Recalling his first meeting with AlNeyadi on return from space, Salem Al Marri, Director-General, Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), earlier revealed that the astronaut said: “We need to go to the Moon.”

• Watch: Sultan AlNeyadi's dance moves go viral