NGUYET CAT (Synthesis)
Saudi Arabia has made history in the aerospace industry by sending two astronauts, Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali Al-Qarni, to the International Space Station (ISS). With this flight, Rayyanah Barnawi became the first Saudi female astronaut to fly into space.
Astronaut Rayyanah Barnawi.
Commercial aerospace company Axiom Space - a partner of the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) - successfully deployed the second mission to bring private astronauts to the ISS using SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket on May 21. This is considered an important step towards the goal of commercializing space travel, after the first special flight was carried out in April last year. It is known that SpaceX has planned to carry more flights to the ISS in the coming years. According to NASA's latest price list, the cost for each guest flying to the ISS is 2,000 USD/day including food but not including the rental of a sleeping bag worth 1,500 USD and other equipment.
In addition to the two Saudi citizens, the Axiom Mission 2 crew also includes two Americans, former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson and pilot John Shoffner from Tennessee. During their eight-day stay on the ISS, the crew aims to conduct 20 research projects, including 14 developed by Saudi scientists in various fields such as human physiology, cell biology and technology development.
The media said that Rayyanah Barnawi's flight into space not only helps Saudi Arabia's scientific research activities, but also inspires women in the country to realize their dreams. Speaking before departing for the ISS, the 33-year-old female astronaut expressed her honor to represent Saudi Arabia on this mission. "I am very honored and happy to represent all the dreams and hopes of all the people of Saudi Arabia, as well as all the women in my country," Barnawi said at a press conference.
Before joining the Axiom Mission 2 mission, Barnawi was known as a talented and admirable woman. As a biomedical researcher, she had nearly a decade of experience studying cancer stem cells. Barnawi graduated with a Bachelor of Genetics, Reproduction and Development from the University of Otago (New Zealand). After earning a Master of Biomedical Sciences from Alfaisal University (Saudi Arabia), she worked in the laboratory at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh.
According to British news agency The Independent, the purpose of Saudi Arabia sending two astronauts to the ISS is to enhance the country's capacity in the "Manned Space Flight Plan" and contribute to scientific research in areas such as medicine , sustainable development and aerospace technology. Previously, in 1985, Prince Salman bin Salman bin Abdulaziz - a former pilot of the Saudi Arabian Air Force - participated in a space mission organized by the US, becoming the first Arab and Muslim to fly into space.
The push into technology and space exploration also reflects Riyadh’s efforts to shed its conservative image and promote gender equality. In addition to pushing for reforms, Saudi Arabia has been diversifying its economy and reducing its dependence on oil. Since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman took power in 2017, the country has promoted women’s rights. In recent years, Saudi Arabia has more than doubled the proportion of women in the workforce, from 17% to 37%. Women have also been allowed to drive and travel abroad without a male guardian.
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