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

Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams, who spent nine months stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) after her 2024 mission was cut short, praised the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for its commitment to space exploration. Speaking at an event in Abu Dhabi, Williams highlighted the UAE's ambition to become a leading nation in space and its willingness to collaborate with other countries for scientific discoveries.

The 61-year-old, who has logged 608 days in space over her 27-year career, described the experience of returning to Earth after a longer-than-planned stay in orbit. She noted that readjusting to gravity after nine months was challenging, particularly since she was older than when she last flew. Williams credited her long-term ISS stay for taking a toll on her physical condition, but noted that she is now feeling stronger and ready to contribute to the space sector.

Currently, Williams serves as an astronaut adviser at commercial space flight firm Vast, which aims to create commercial alternatives to the ISS, which is scheduled to be phased out by 2030 or 2031. Vast's first space station, Haven-1, is set to launch in early 2027.

Experts believe the UAE's influence in the space sector will only grow with the advancements made by commercial companies. Salem Al Qubaisi, director general of the UAE Space Agency, emphasized the importance of international partnerships and collaboration in shaping the future of space research. Mohammed Al Mulla, a former Dubai Police pilot selected to join the UAE's astronaut program, echoed this sentiment, stressing that space exploration is a collective effort and that private sector involvement is accelerating progress.

The UAE's National Space Strategy 2031 aims to foster collaboration between research institutions, industry, and investment to develop advanced space technologies. The country also aspires to become one of the world's top 10 space economies by 2031. In May, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, unveiled a strategy to advance the UAE's role in the space sector, including the launch of the International Space Co-operation Programme.