Axiom Space’s private mission to the International Space Station (ISS) is poised to launch the ‘Ax-2’ on Sunday (local time) from Florida, with the first-ever Saudi woman in its crew, according to Axiom Space.
The name of the first Saudi woman to travel into space is Rayyanah Barnawi, who is a breast cancer researcher joined by another Saudi national, Ali AlQarni. The launch of Ax-2 is scheduled for 5:37 p.m. EDT on Sunday, May 21, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida’s Launch Complex 39A.
The project has been funded, and aviator John Shoffner of Knoxville, Tennessee, will serve as pilot. As reported by Axiom Space, the two mission experts from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Ali AlQarni and Rayyanah Barnawi, are part of the inaugural Saudi national astronaut programme.
Barnawi is a 33-year-old young laboratory professional with extensive experience in cancer stem cell research. She is now employed as a research and laboratory expert.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in reproductive science, genetic engineering, and tissue development from the University of Otago in New Zealand and her master’s degree in biomedical sciences from King Faisal University in Saudi Arabia. According to the Saudi Gazette, she has nine years of great experience in the field of cancer stem cell research.
Axiom Space: Saudi Arabia hopes to instill scientific temperament in the Kingdom
Saudi Arabia stated in February that it will send the first Saudi female astronaut, Rayyanah Barnawi, and male astronaut Ali Al-Qarni to the International Space Station during the second quarter of 2023.
The spacecraft will launch from the United States to the International Space Station. The spacecraft will launch from the United States to the International Space Station. The Saudi Human Spaceflight Programme also involves the training of two more astronauts, Mariam Fardous and Ali Al-Ghamdi, on all mission requirements, reported the Saudi Gazette.
The space mission aims to strengthen Saudi scientists’ capabilities in human spaceflight in order to serve humanity and benefit from the promising opportunities offered by the space industry, as well as to contribute to scientific research in many areas, including health, sustainability, and space technology.
The Kingdom hopes to stimulate scientific advances at the level of space sciences through this programme, as well as improve its ability to undertake independent research that will have a good impact on the future of the space sector and the country as a whole, according to the Saudi Gazette.
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