Saudi Arabia’s first space mission is scheduled to launch on May 21, according to the report by Saudi Gazette.
Saudi astronauts Ali al-Qarni and Rayyanah Barnawi – the first Arab female astronaut – are set to travel to the International Space Station.
The mission is part of the Kingdom’s astronauts’ programme, which was launched on September 22 last year. The mission represents Saudi Arabia’s ambitions in space research and is part of the goals of Vision 2030.
The Saudi space mission will launch from the United States.
The astronauts will conduct 14 pioneering scientific experiments in microgravity that will help scientists and researchers devise new ways to provide suitable conditions for humans to further explore space.
The results will advance the Kingdom’s global position in space exploration, with the ultimate aim of better-serving humanity.
It will support Saudi research centres and will have a scientific impact on future space exploration.
The astronauts will also conduct three educational awareness experiments with 12,000 Saudi students via live feed.
This mission, once accomplished, places the Kingdom as one of the few countries that will have had two astronauts simultaneously on board the International Space Station.
The programme is designed to prepare future astronauts and engineers for space through quality education and training programmes, participation in scientific experiments, international research and future space-related missions.
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