Saudi Scripts History As First Arab Woman Astronaut Lifts Off Into Space

Zaheer Hussain
May 23, 2023
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Rayyanah Barnawi, the first Arab woman astronaut, will go into space on May 21 as part of Saudi Arabia’s inaugural space mission, according to reports cited by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). Ali al-Qarni, another Saudi astronaut, will be aboard. In a historic space mission launched from the United States, the two astronauts will go to the International Space Station. “I am honoured and delighted to represent all the dreams and hopes of the people of Saudi Arabia.” “As well as the hopes and dreams of all the women in the region,” Barnawi stated during a pre-launch press conference.

Saudi Scripts History As First Arab Woman Astronaut Lifts Off Into Space

Why In The News?

The Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia (KSA) Marked Another Milestone In The Kingdom’s History As The First Arab Woman Lifted Off To The International Space Station (ISS).
Axiom Mission 2 (AX-2) Crew, Which Includes Saudi Astronauts Rayyanah Barnawi & Ali Al-Qarni, Lifted Off In A SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Aboard A SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft To The ISS From The Kennedy Space Center At Cape Canaveral In The US State Of Florida On Monday On 22 May 2023.

Axiom Mission 2 (AX-2) Crew:

The Crew Consists Of 4 Members: Rayyanah Barnawi, A Breast Cancer Researcher, Ali Al Qarni, A Fighter Pilot. American Peggy Whitson, Flight Commander, And Pilot John Shoffner.

Saudi Scripts History As First Arab Woman Astronaut Lifts Off Into Space

About The Mission:

It Was The Second Private Mission By Axiom Space To The International Space Station (ISS). The Four Will Work To Further The Development Of The Commercial Space Station Envisioned By Axiom Space, A Private Aerospace Company.
They Are Scheduled To Spend About 8 Days Aboard The ISS. The Four Astronauts Will Be Working And Living In The Orbiting Laboratory To Implement A Full Manifest Of Science, Outreach, And Commercial Activities.
The Four Astronauts, During Their Stay In The Zero-gravity Lab, Will Conduct Key Experiments To Study How Microgravity Affects Stem Cells And Thick Tissue Constructs.
Their Work Is Aimed At Detecting Diseases And Developing Therapies For People On Earth.
The Four-member Team Is Set To Carry Out Some 20 Experiments While On The ISS.
The Four Astronauts Will Join Three Russians, Three Americans, And Emirati Astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, Who Was The First Arab National To Go On A Spacewalk Last Month.

Earlier Missions By Axiom Space:

Axiom Space Carried Out Its First Private Astronaut Mission To The ISS In April 2022, Sending Three Businessmen, And Former Astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria To Spend 17 Days In Orbit As Part Of Ax-1.

What’s In There For Saudi?

Saudi Arabia’s Participation In The Mission Is To Expand Space Science Education In The Kingdom. Saudi Male And Female Students Will Participate In Scientific Experiments Conducted On The International Space Station.
The Mission Is Part Of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, A Reform Program That Hopes To Reduce The Country’s Dependence On Oil And Create Jobs For Saudi Youth.
In September 2022, The Saudi Space Commission Launched The Kingdom’s Program For Astronauts, With Goals Including – Qualifying Saudi Cadres For Long- And Short-term Space Flights, Participating In Scientific Experiments, International Research, And Future Space-related Missions.
It Is Worth Noting That The Mission Is Not Saudi Arabia’s First Foray Into Space. In 1985, Prince Sultan Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz, A Pilot In The Air Force, Participated In A Space Flight Organized By The United States.

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