Here comes a proud moment for all girls, especially women coming from Saudi Arabia. Rayyanah Barnawi, a Saudi breast cancer researcher, is set to go to space as the first Arab woman to do so. The rocket took off on Sunday on a mission to the ISS.
Rayyanah Barnawi
The first Arab woman to step into space is actually a breast cancer researcher from Saudi Arabia. Not only Rayyanah Barnawi, but also the Saudi Ali al-Qarni belongs to Saudi Arabia and is part of the mission as a fighter pilot. These two are actually the first Saudi astronauts to go to space in decades.
The mission took off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The rocket comes from the Kennedy Space Center, in Cape Canaveral, in the southern United States. The takeoff time was 17:37 local time.
The launch took place from the Kennedy Space Center and the crew was made up of a retired NASA astronaut and businessman, who currently owns the company that organized the visit.
The liftoff is actually the second private flight to the space station organized by Axiom Space. Last year the company sent a former NASA astronaut and three businessmen into space.
Before creating a separate outpost for recruitment, Axiom Space intends to add its rooms to the International Space Station (ISS).
The ticket price of the passengers is not clearly known, but Axiom Space previously indicated that the ticket price was $55 million each. The duration of the mission would be 10 days.
NASA’s latest price list sets a charge of $2,000 per person per day for food. Additionally, it indicated a charge of $1,500 for sleeping bags.
What does it mean for Saudi Arabia?
This is great news that makes Saudi Arabia proud. Al-Qarni and Barnawi are the first Saudis to visit the country by rocket in decades. The last time it happened was in 1985, when the Saudi prince launched the shuttle Discovery. The tickets for Al-Qarni and Barnawi were sponsored by the government of Saudi Arabia.
In reality, it is a strong move by the Gulf Kingdom to involve a Saudi woman in a mission to space. While in the Gulf Kingdom women gained the right to drive only a few years ago, sending a woman into space turns out to be a notable step that contradicts the conservative image of her.
It was in 2018 when the Gulf Kingdom created the Saudi Space Commission. Last year it launched a mission to send astronauts into space.
After reaching orbit, R Barnawi made a statement: “Hello from outer space! “It’s incredible to be able to see the Earth from this capsule.”
To this, Al-Qarni added by saying that as he looks into space, he wonders if this is just the beginning of a great journey ahead for everyone.
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Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: ptivs2.edu.vn