Saudi Arabia's mission to space next year will include the kingdom's, and the world's, first female Arab astronaut
23 September 2022
| Last updated on 23 September 2022
Saudi's space mission is slated for early 2023.
History is in the making as a Saudi Arabian woman may be the first female Arab astronaut to reach space next year.
On Thursday, the kingdom announced their plans for a new mission to the International Space Station, where they'll be sending two of their citizens - one of which will be a woman - onboard a SpaceX capsule. They'll be accompanied by two American astronauts as part of Axiom's second private mission to the space station.
If all goes according to plan, the mission is expected to take place in early 2023.
As of now, the female Saudi astronaut and her companion remains unnamed. They will be tasked to conduct scientific research and experiments in space, with a focus on space technology, human health, and sustainability.
According to the kingdom's press agency, the kingdom also plans to launch its National Space Strategy in the coming months, to show programs and initiatives that aim to serve humanity from space.
Pictured: The International Space Station
Saudi Arabia's history-making addition to the global space race is in line with the nation's Vision 2030.
This is not the kingdom's first stride in space - in 1985, Sultan ibn Salman Al Saud was the first Saudi citizen, the first Arab, the first Muslim, and the first member of a royal family to travel into space.
