In the second quarter of 2023, Saudi Arabia is going to send its first female astronaut to the International Space Station. Read to know more about the new endeavor.
First female astronaut from Saudi Arabia to the ISS
On Sunday, the Saudi Space Commission announced its plan for sending a female and male astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS). The astronauts-Rayyanah Barnawahi and Ali Al-Qarni will be joining the crew of the AX-2 space mission in the second quarter of this year. The agency is aiming to empower the nation’s capacities in human spaceflight. With this, it is helping Saudi Arabia gear towards serving people and benefiting from opportunities that come with the space industry.
Two other astronauts Ali Al-Ghamdi and Marium Fardous will also be included in the Saudi Human Spaceflight Programme training. They will all be receiving training on the mission’s requirements. The astronauts will also be contributing to scientific research in several aspects such as sustainability, space technology, and health. They will be launching from the US.
More on the Saudi Human Spaceflight Programme
Through the Saudi Human Spaceflight Programme, the nation is seeking to begin scientific research. This will have a positive reflection on the future of science and the space industry. Moreover, as per the space agency, the Ministry of Defence is leading the program. However, the General Authority of Civil Aviation, the Ministry of Sport, and the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre are a part of it. Additionally, Axiom Space is going to be their international partner.