Saudi Arabia’s first female astronaut Rayyanah Barnawi, and the first Saudi male astronaut Ali Al-Qarni, are set to embark on a historic scientific mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on May 21st. The mission is a significant event for the Kingdom and inaugurates a new phase for the country in the field of space exploration.
According to the Saudi Space Commission, the mission is part of the Kingdom’s astronaut program, which was launched on September 22, 2022. It includes 14 pioneering scientific research experiments in microgravity that will provide answers to enable human expansion in the health research field, as well as protect the planet through the application of scientific experiments, many of which are being carried out on the space station for the first time in the world.
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The research results will also enhance Saudi Arabia’s global position in space exploration and serve humanity, confirming the role of Saudi research centers in making an impact in several priority areas, such as health, sustainability, and space technology, contributing to achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
Lately, His Royal Highness Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Saudi Space Commission, received the Saudi astronauts and wished them success on their scientific mission and a safe return to their homeland, expressing high hopes for them as ambassadors and representatives of their country at the International Space Station.
This mission places Saudi Arabia among the few countries in the world capable of sending astronauts of the same nationality to the ISS simultaneously, as part of the Kingdom’s astronaut program to build national capabilities in the field of scientific space missions and to take advantage of the promising opportunities offered by the space sector and its industry worldwide.
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