Saudi Arabia
2 Saudi Astronauts Set For Launch to Space Station on Sunday
Saudi Arabia’s first female astronaut Rayyanah Barnawi and her colleague Ali Al Qarni will blast off to the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday, May 21.
Barnawi, a breast cancer researcher, along with F-16 fighter pilot Al Qarni, will be part of Axiom Space 2 mission, which will be blasting off no earlier than 5.37 p.m. (EDT time) on May 21, NASA said.
Astronaut Peggy Whiston and business pioneer and pilot John Shoffner will also be part of the Axiom Space 2 mission.
Al Qarni and Barnawi will be the first Saudis to visit the space station, and Barnawi will become the first Saudi woman to fly in space.
Liftoff atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is planned for 5:37 p.m. EST Sunday with a backup launch opportunity at 5:14 p.m. Monday.
