The First Saudi Female and A Male Astronaut going to the International Space Station
The Sending of the Astronauts goes in line with Vision 2030
Riyadh – Asdaf News:
Rayyanah Barnawi, the first Saudi female astronaut and Ali AlQarni, a Saudi male astonaut, will go to the International Space Station in the second quarter of 2023, Saudi Arabia said today.
In order to serve humanity and take advantage of the exciting opportunities provided by the space industry, this aims to strengthen national capabilities in human spaceflight. It also aims to contribute to scientific research in a variety of fields, including health, sustainability, and space technology. Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni, two astronauts, will join the AX-2 space mission team.
The spacecraft will take off for the International Space Station from the USA. The Saudi Human Spaceflight Program also involves training two additional astronauts in all aspects of mission requirements (Mariam Fardous& Ali AlGamdi).
Eng. Abdullah Bin Amer Al-Swaha, the chairman of the Saudi Space Commission, stated today that the leadership of the Kingdom is eager to provide unrestricted support for the space program. This program aims to increase the interest of graduates in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), activate scientific innovations at the level of space sciences, improve the Kingdom’s capacity to independently conduct its own research that will benefit the industry and the nation, and develop human capital by luring talents and the necessary skills.
Mohammed Bin Saud Al-Tamimi, the CEO of the Saudi Space Commission, also expressed his gratitude to the leadership for the commission’s support and empowerment, which have reduced the hurdles and obstacles and allowed the Kingdom to make significant advancements in the space sector. Human spaceflight is a representation of a nation’s technological prowess and worldwide competitiveness in a variety of areas, including engineering, research, and innovation. The fact that the Kingdom will be one of the few nations in the world to send two astronauts of the same nationality to the International Space Station at the same time makes this trip historic.
According to the Saudi Space Commission, this program is a collaboration between a number of organizations, including the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, the General Authority of Civil Aviation, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Sport, and Axiom Space, a US company that specializes in human spaceflights and the construction of space infrastructure.
It should be remembered that the Saudi Human Spaceflight Program was earlier started by the Saudi Space Commission. This voyage is a crucial turning point in a comprehensive program designed to prepare skilled Saudis for human spaceflight, scientific research, international collaboration, and other space-related missions supporting the Kingdom’s 2030 Vision.
