Nasa astronaut stranded on ISS for nine months praises UAE's space ambitions

Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams, currently stranded on the International Space Station for nine months, has praised the UAE's dedication to space exploration. At an event in Abu Dhabi, she highlighted the nation's commitment to becoming a leading spacefaring country and its intention to collaborate with other nations for scientific advancements.

Despite her 27-year career involving 608 days in space, Williams faced significant challenges during her extended stay on the ISS. Her recent mission, which was intended as an eight-day test flight, turned into a 286-day stay after her crew's Boeing Starliner encountered technical failures. The experience proved grueling, taking almost two years to adjust to Earth's gravity again.

Williams now works as an astronaut adviser at Vast, a US space infrastructure company aiming to provide commercial alternatives to the ISS, which is set to be phased out by 2030 or 2031. The UAE's space ambitions are expected to grow with the advancements of commercial companies, as noted by Salem Al Qubaisi, director general of the UAE Space Agency.

He emphasized the importance of international partnerships and joint missions in shaping the future of space research. Mohammed Al Mulla, a former Dubai Police pilot selected for the UAE's astronaut program, underscored the necessity of global collaboration in space exploration. The UAE's National Space Strategy 2031 envisions the nation as one of the world's top space economies by 2031, with plans to advance research, industry, and investment in advanced space technologies.