Saudi Space Commission (SSC): The two Saudi astronauts Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni arrive at the International Space Station, The team crew welcome and greet them

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., May 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The two Saudi astronauts Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni and mission team crew have arrived at the International Space Station today at 13:24 GMT / 14:24 BST after their spacecraft Dragon 2 successfully docked.

Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni arrive at the International Space Station.

Today, NASA has announced the successful docking of Dragon 2 after 16 hours of the rocket launch yesterday from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre at Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The docking of the "Dragon 2" spacecraft with the ISS is a historic moment for the Saudi astronaut, Rayyanah Barnawi who becomes the first ever Arab woman to fly into space to the ISS. A historic moment also for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which is, as of now, the first Arabic country to send a woman on a space scientific mission just as it is also one of the few countries that has two astronauts on board the ISS simultaneously.

The mission crew that consists of four astronauts, Rayyanah Barnawi, Ali AlQarni, Peggy Whiston and John Shoffner, were welcomed and greeted by the International Space Station team that whished them success in their endeavor. 

Upon arrival, the mission crew of AX-2 changed their space suits and joined the ISS team preparing to carry out their mission in space, where they will conduct 14 pioneering research experiments in microgravity that are set to have important scientific impact. The studies that will take place in space by the two Saudi astronauts range from human research and cell science to artificial rain in microgravity in order to develop space science and progress in sending more manned spacecrafts to the moon and to Mars. In addition, the Saudi astronauts will also conduct three educational awareness experiments. This space program has placed the Kingdom as an important player in the global community of space science research, and as a main investor in the service of humanity and its future.

The Saudi Space Commission confirmed that the astronauts, Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni, are fully trained and prepared to carry out their mission in space. SSC is also confident that they will accomplish the mission planned successfully and return safely to earth.

The efforts by the SSC are designed to prepare future astronauts and engineers, through quality educational and training programs, participation in scientific experiments, international research and future space-related missions – all of which will contribute to raising the status of the Kingdom and to achieving the goals of Vision 2030.

Notes to Editors

About The Saudi Space Commission (SSC):

The Saudi Space Commission was established by the royal order in December of 2018 (Rabi II 1440). This bold step serves a future that is innovative and looks forward to the latest technologies and opportunities in the Saudi Space Industry.

With the Kingdom moving towards a progressive quality of life, SSC demonstrates the aligned vision of creating better, secure environments for its citizens while actively enabling prospects of lucrative economic and monetary inventions.

The SSC has strategized to create primary objectives that serve national security interests against space related risks and encourage cumulative growth and advancement.

https://saudispace.gov.sa/en/about-us/