Sultan AI Neyadi, astronaut from UAE shares Cyclone Biparjoy's photos taken from space

Sultan AI Neyadi, one of the first two astronauts from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has shared some stunning photos of Cyclone Biparjoy taken from the International Space Station (ISS). The cyclone, which is expected to make landfall near the India-Pakistan border on Thursday evening, is a powerful tropical storm that has caused mass evacuations and disruptions in both countries.

Who is Sultan AI Neyadi?

Sultan AI Neyadi is a 42-year-old engineer and astronaut who was selected from over 4,000 candidates to become one of the first Emirati astronauts in 2018. He is currently on a six-month mission on the ISS as part of the SpaceX Crew-6 expedition. He arrived on the space station on March 3, 2023, along with three other crew members from NASA and Axiom Space.

He made history on April 29, 2023, by becoming the first Arab astronaut to conduct a spacewalk outside the ISS. He and NASA astronaut Steve Bowen installed cables and insulation for the next pair of solar arrays on the station. He also celebrated his birthday in space on May 23, 2023.

He is not the first Arab or Emirati astronaut to go to space, however. That honor goes to Hazza Al Mansoori, who lived on the space station for eight days in 2019. But Al Neyadi is the first Arab and Emirati astronaut on a long-term mission to ISS. He is expected to return to Earth in September 2023.

What is Cyclone Biparjoy?

Cyclone Biparjoy is an extremely severe cyclonic storm that formed over the east-central Arabian Sea and has been moving towards the India-Pakistan border region since late last week. It has winds of 150 km/h (90 mph) and gusts up to 195 km/h (121 mph), equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane.

The cyclone is expected to make landfall near Jakhau Port in Gujarat's Kutch district later this evening, bringing heavy rain, damaging winds and coastal storm surges across the region. The India Meteorological Department has issued red alerts for several districts in Gujarat and Maharashtra states, warning of possible flash floods and landslides.

Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from coastal and low-lying areas in both countries as a precautionary measure. Livestock have also been moved to higher ground, some schools have been ordered to shut, and fishing suspended. Flight operations have been halted at some airports in Gujarat and Pakistan's Sindh province.

How did Sultan AI Neyadi capture the cyclone from space?

Sultan AI Neyadi has been sharing his views of Earth from space on his Twitter account since he arrived on the ISS. He has posted photos of various landmarks and natural phenomena, such as the UAE's Palm Islands, Mount Kilimanjaro, auroras and sandstorms.

On June 13, he posted his first photo of Cyclone Biparjoy from space, showing its spiral shape and cloud cover over the Arabian Sea. He wrote: "Cyclone Biparjoy as seen from @Space_Station today. Stay safe everyone."

On June 14, he posted another photo of the cyclone, showing its eye and its proximity to India's west coast. He wrote: "Cyclone Biparjoy getting closer to landfall. Praying for everyone's safety."

On June 15, he posted a third photo of the cyclone, showing its impact on India's coastline and Pakistan's Sindh province. He wrote: "Cyclone Biparjoy making landfall today. Sending my best wishes to all those affected."

His photos have received thousands of likes and retweets from his followers and admirers, who have thanked him for his updates and expressed their awe at his perspective.

Conclusion

Sultan AI Neyadi is an inspiring example of an Emirati astronaut who has achieved remarkable feats in space exploration. He has also used his unique vantage point to share his observations of Cyclone Biparjoy, a dangerous storm that has threatened millions of lives in India and Pakistan. His photos have captured the beauty and power of nature from a different angle, while also raising awareness and empathy for those affected by the cyclone.

Source:

(1) Sultan Al Neyadi - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultan_Al_Neyadi.

(2) UAE’s Sultan Al Neyadi makes history as first Arab astronaut to walk in .... https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/uae-sultan-al-neyadi-international-space-station-8582398/.

(3) Sultan Al Neyadi shares stunning image of UAE from space station. https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/2023/03/14/sultan-al-neyadi-shares-stunning-image-of-uae-from-space-station/.

(4) Cyclone Biparjoy LIVE: Gujarat' Mandvi witnesses strong winds and heavy rain. https://www.livemint.com/news/india/cyclone-biparjoy-live-cyclone-to-make-landfall-in-gujarat-saurashtra-kutch-pakistan-15-june-evening-imd-red-alert-11686791100297.html.

(5) What will happen after cyclone Biparjoy makes a landfall?. https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/other/what-will-happen-after-cyclone-biparjoy-makes-a-landfall/ar-AA1cAiTY.

(6) Cyclone Biparjoy: Flight operations suspended at Jamnagar airport, NOTAM issued. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/cyclone-biparjoy-flight-operations-suspended-at-jamnagar-airport-notam-issued/articleshow/101017975.cms.

(7) Cyclone Biparjoy - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone_Biparjoy.

(8) Cyclone Biparjoy: Tens of thousands evacuated as India and ... - CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/14/asia/india-pakistan-cyclone-biparjoy-evacuations-intl-hnk/index.html.