'Time flies in space': Do astronauts have deadlines? UAE's AlNeyadi on racing against the 'red line'

Not only are mere mortals like us are shackled by daily targets, even astronauts in space have to chase daily deadlines.

Emirati astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi during a media session of “A Call with Space’ that was held on Wednesday at Dubai’s Museum of the Future, revealed: “We have a schedule, and we have a red line that we must maintain. If you are running behind the red line, then you are late, so the aim is to go beyond the red line and not be late.

“Time flies in space. We are so busy that we can’t feel the time pass by. We see 16 sunrises and sunsets every day. But we have adapted to this biological clock.”

Humanity’s first out-of- this- world experience

Al Neyadi, sporting a ‘new look’, thanked the media for mapping his journey, as the world marked the 62nd International Day of Human Space Flight, when humanity, collectively through cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, had its first out-of- this- world experience.

This call was part of MBRSC’s second episode of its countrywide outreach initiative.

Revealing that he is in good mental and physical health, the 41-year-old who is currently onboard the orbiting laboratory for a long-haul mission, said: “We have to spin the wheel in the Arab region and spread awareness about such expeditions. There are psychological challenges, but we have adapted well. While I am onboard the ISS I can communicate with my family on a daily basis through video and voice calls and even emails. If they are happy and if you all on Earth are happy, then I am happy.”