She’s “the woman with the wild hair” – as US President Donald Trump referred last week to Sunita Williams (also known as Suni), the Nasa astronaut who, along with her colleague Butch Wilmore, has not been on Earth since June 5 of last year.
They were supposed to be up in orbit aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for eight days, having reached the station on the first crewed flight for Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. The trip went on quite a bit longer due to technical malfunctions and helium leaks in Starliner's propulsion system.
Capt Williams and Capt Wilmore, who spent their most recent birthdays in orbit – her 59th, his 62nd – finally on Tuesday began their 17-hour voyage home, on SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft. After many months, they are back on Earth.
How many people can say that? Well, in 2023 the UAE's Sultan Al Neyadi went up for six months – the longest Arab space mission – and returned on schedule. And certainly, other accomplished astronauts have spent significant stretches of time in orbit.
Astronauts have continuously lived and worked aboard the ISS for more than two decades. They test technology, collect data for scientific research and develop the skills they need to propel humanity’s exploration farther afield.
Most of us Earth-bound folk, however, will never fully comprehend what it must feel like to do a spacewalk in a capacious astro-suit with a helmet and radio static in weightlessness.
The novelty factor of air travel for us ordinary people may provide, at best, catching two sunrises or two sunsets in a day of flight across time zones. And those are gorgeous, sure. If you’re awake and have a window seat to look at the sky, your mind might push off to a reflective place.
But none of this professional, gravity-defying stuff. Cue the Bob Dylan song about there being no direction home: How does it feel?...
Far from boring, apparently. Col Cady Coleman, a retired Nasa astronaut and veteran of two space shuttle missions, spent 159 days in space. “I would’ve spent another 159 days if I could”, she told the BBC. She added: “It might depend on the person, but I have not yet met an astronaut who was bored up there...”
Many will be eagerly awaiting these latest returnees to write a book, or at least be on a podcast, with the video – who would want to miss their gestures, the body language, perhaps Capt Williams conveying to Mr Trump that her hair wouldn't abide a ponytail because the missing gravitational force would render a hair claw useless?
Given the constraints of space life, Cpt Williams could take Donald Trump's remarks with a pinch of salt
Given the constraints of space life, Capt Williams could take Donald Trump's remarks with a pinch of salt. What he says naturally tends to make headlines, but he wasn’t inaccurate in his descriptions: “Good solid head of hair she’s got,”; “There’s no kidding, there's no games with her hair.”
Capt Wilmore, too, and the rest of their crew who joined later in September, Nasa astronaut Nick Hague and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, might well have their own physical challenges. The stories of men and women who’ve spent any amount of time in space are always interesting – only more so for those who have hit remarkable endurance records on their journey.
In the mid-1990s, Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov spent 437 days in space. A handful of women have similarly impressive records. Astronaut Peggy Whitson has a record of 675 cumulative days in space (in one go: 289 days), and Christina Koch has 328 days.
Being in space isn't easy on the human body – or the human mind. Do they sleep well? How much are they dreaming? Science says being in space accelerates ageing at a cellular level. The heart, blood vessels, bones and muscles deteriorate more than 10 times faster in space than by natural ageing.
The psychological toll is another big subject. Medical teams will be evaluating the crew on their return, as they have for mission members in the past, to get an idea of the demands and pitfalls of space expeditions on the human psyche.
When regular air travellers return home from a trip away, we might exhale and say mundane things about how there’s nothing like being back in your own bed. It may be no less true for weary and aged space travellers.
To finally enter the Earth’s atmosphere and be able to walk on ground must be a wonderful, familiar feeling. Astronaut or not, though, how is a human being trained to keep overwhelming emotions of having made it back in one piece in check?
These astronauts, as so many before and after them who will embark on missions, will probably spend weeks and months re-acclimatising to families, domesticity, their living rooms, their shampoo and hair care routines even, and generally feeling grounded and at home. The Williams and Wilmore families, too, and others, have probably traversed a universe of their own million anxieties in the past months.
How often is it the case, though, that after the rush and excitement of being back on Earth subsides, astronauts think back on their long months in space and how they spent their time? Do they, just a tiny bit, begin to yearn for the absence of gravity?
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
11 cabbie-recommended restaurants and dishes to try in Abu Dhabi
Iqbal Restaurant behind Wendy’s on Hamdan Street for the chicken karahi (Dh14)
Pathemari in Navy Gate for prawn biryani (from Dh12 to Dh35)
Abu Al Nasar near Abu Dhabi Mall, for biryani (from Dh12 to Dh20)
Bonna Annee at Navy Gate for Ethiopian food (the Bonna Annee special costs Dh42 and comes with a mix of six house stews – key wet, minchet abesh, kekel, meser be sega, tibs fir fir and shiro).
Al Habasha in Tanker Mai for Ethiopian food (tibs, a hearty stew with meat, is a popular dish; here it costs Dh36.75 for lamb and beef versions)
Himalayan Restaurant in Mussaffa for Nepalese (the momos and chowmein noodles are best-selling items, and go for between Dh14 and Dh20)
Makalu in Mussaffa for Nepalese (get the chicken curry or chicken fry for Dh11)
Al Shaheen Cafeteria near Guardian Towers for a quick morning bite, especially the egg sandwich in paratha (Dh3.50)
Pinky Food Restaurant in Tanker Mai for tilapia
Tasty Zone for Nepalese-style noodles (Dh15)
Ibrahimi for Pakistani food (a quarter chicken tikka with roti costs Dh16)
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The specs: 2018 Audi Q5/SQ5
Price, base: Dh183,900 / Dh249,000
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder / 3.0L, turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic / Eight-speed automatic
Power: 252hp @ 5,000rpm / 354hp @ 5,400rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,600rpm / 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
Fuel economy: combined 7.2L / 100km / 8.3L / 100km
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
A cryptocurrency primer for beginners
Cryptocurrency Investing for Dummies – by Kiana Danial
There are several primers for investing in cryptocurrencies available online, including e-books written by people whose credentials fall apart on the second page of your preferred search engine.
Ms Danial is a finance coach and former currency analyst who writes for Nasdaq. Her broad-strokes primer (2019) breaks down investing in cryptocurrency into baby steps, while explaining the terms and technologies involved.
Although cryptocurrencies are a fast evolving world, this book offers a good insight into the game as well as providing some basic tips, strategies and warning signs.
Begin your cryptocurrency journey here.
Available at Magrudy’s , Dh104
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MATCH INFO
Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0
De Bruyne (70')
Man of the Match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
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Family reunited
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was born and raised in Tehran and studied English literature before working as a translator in the relief effort for the Japanese International Co-operation Agency in 2003.
She moved to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies before moving to the World Health Organisation as a communications officer.
She came to the UK in 2007 after securing a scholarship at London Metropolitan University to study a master's in communication management and met her future husband through mutual friends a month later.
The couple were married in August 2009 in Winchester and their daughter was born in June 2014.
She was held in her native country a year later.
'Nope'
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The specs
Engine: Turbocharged four-cylinder 2.7-litre
Power: 325hp
Torque: 500Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh189,700
On sale: now
SPECS
Nissan 370z Nismo
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 363hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh184,500
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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IF YOU GO
The flights
FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.
The tours
English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people.
The hotels
Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.
St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.
