Saudi astronauts set for space launch on May 22

Two Saudi astronauts, Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali Al Qarni, are set to launch to the International Space Station (ISS) on May 22 as part of the Axiom Space 2 mission, after a two-week delay. The mission also includes Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut, and American pilot John Shoffner. The Saudi astronauts will join UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi on board the ISS for a 10-day trip. This is the first mission for Saudi Arabia’s new astronaut programme, as the Saudi Space Commission aims to establish a sustainable space programme.

Ms Barnawi will become the first Arab woman on the ISS, and during the trip, the two Saudi astronauts will conduct several science experiments assigned to them by Saudi-based universities. This comes almost 40 years after the kingdom sent its first citizen, Prince Sultan bin Salman, into orbit on NASA’s Space Shuttle for a week-long stay. The Saudi Space Commission is considering long-duration space missions to capitalize on the microgravity environment, which will involve training many astronauts, engaging local entities for research, and strengthening international research partnerships.

The trip to the ISS was postponed by two weeks after another launch was delayed last month, but NASA announced the new target date on May 8. The astronauts will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida at 1:37 am GST on May 22, and it will be the first of a long list of astronauts that Saudi Arabia hopes to recruit. The Saudi Space Commission is trying to establish a sustainable space programme, and this mission is part of its efforts to achieve this goal.