Today, Sunday, the two Saudi astronauts, Rayana Bernawi and Ali Al-Qarni, arrived at the launch site of the spacecraft for the International Space Station.
Saudi astronauts Ali and Rayana met their families before moving to the launch vehicle.
Complete the preparations
The US space agency “NASA”, “SpaceX”, “Axiom Space” and the Saudi Space Authority confirmed, during a press conference in Orlando, Florida, at dawn today, that preparations for the AX-2 space mission have been completed as scheduled today, taking into account weather conditions. favorable conditions for launching to the International Space Station (ISS), aboard the “Dragon 2” spacecraft, which carries four astronauts on board: Rayana Barnawi, the first Saudi and Arab female astronaut, Ali Al-Qarni, the first Saudi astronaut to head to the International Station, and the Americans Peggy Whitson, and John Shoffner, to conduct 14 groundbreaking science research experiments in microgravity. According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Full readiness
The conference was attended by the advisor of the Saudi Space Authority, Eng. Mashael Al-Shammari, Mike McAleenen from the “45th Weather Squadron” of the US Space Agency, the director of the American program for the International Space Station, Joel Montalbano, the director of operations at the “Axiom Space” company, Derek Hasman, and the director of the space flights program at the “Axiom Space” company. SpaceX Bungie Raid.
The speakers at the press conference stressed the full readiness of the space mission crew, and that the flight will be launched on schedule from Cape Canaveral, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Historic moment
Al-Shamimary expressed her confidence in the implementation of the two astronauts, Rayana Bernawi and Ali Al-Qarni, for their scientific mission on the International Space Station, Punjaj, and that it is a historic moment for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the entire Arab region, and it represents a source of inspiration for Saudi and Arab youth.
She also praised the cooperation with the US space agency “NASA”, “Axiom Space” and “SpaceX”, a cooperation that resulted in achieving great progress in the Kingdom’s plans to explore space and work on scientific research in microgravity to serve science and humanity.
In response to a question during the press conference, Al-Shammari said: “Saudi citizens throughout the Kingdom are excited about this scientific mission of the Saudi astronauts,” indicating that the Saudi exhibitions will be launched into space in conjunction with the launch of the scientific mission of the Saudi astronauts at the International Station, where the exhibitions will be held in the city of Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran.
Arrive on time
For his part, Joel Montalbano, Director of the American Program for the International Space Station, Director of Operations at Axiom Space, and Derek Hasman, confirmed that the competent authorities in the space flight confirmed the implementation of the flight launch process, and the arrival at the International Space Station on time.
While Mike McAleenen of the “45th Weather Squadron” of the US Space Agency indicated that the weather is suitable for launching the space flight on time, and that follow-up to the weather continues until the launch date.
Qualifying Saudi cadres
It is noteworthy that the journey of the Saudi astronauts comes within the framework of the Kingdom’s program for astronauts, which aims to qualify experienced Saudi cadres for space flights, and to participate in conducting scientific experiments, international research and future missions related to the space sector.
