Saudi astronauts scheduled for Sunday launch to Space Station

Saudi Arabia is set to make history as its first female astronaut, Rayyanah Barnawi, and her colleague Ali al-Qarni prepare for their journey to the International Space Station. (Saudi Space Authority)
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Updated 21 May 2023
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Saudi astronauts scheduled for Sunday launch to Space Station

  • The duo will join Axiom Space 2 mission, scheduled to launch at 5:37pm (EDT time), according to NASA
  • Astronaut Peggy Whitson, and business pioneer and pilot John Shoffner will also be part of the mission

Saudi Arabia is set to make history as its first female astronaut, Rayyanah Barnawi, and her colleague Ali al-Qarni prepare for their journey to the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday.

The duo will join the Axiom Space 2 mission, scheduled to launch at 5:37 p.m. (EDT time), according to NASA. Astronaut Peggy Whitson and business pioneer and pilot John Shoffner will also be part of the mission.

Barnawi, a breast cancer researcher, expressed her excitement and honor at representing Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Space Commission as the country's first female astronaut. She highlighted her passion for research and described the opportunity as a dream come true for everyone involved.

During their eight-day stay on the ISS, Whitson, Shoffner, al-Qarni, and Barnawi aim to conduct 20 research projects. Among them are 14 projects developed by Saudi scientists, covering various areas such as human physiology, cell biology, and technology development.

The launch, planned atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has a backup launch opportunity scheduled on Monday at 5:14 p.m.


Saudi defense minister receives Mukalla port director, thanks him for heroic role

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman poses with the director of the Port of Mukalla Salem Basamir on Tuesday.
Updated 13 January 2026
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Saudi defense minister receives Mukalla port director, thanks him for heroic role

  • Prince Khalid thanked Basamir for his heroic and humanitarian role in ensuring safety and protecting lives and property at the port

RIYADH: Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman received the director of the Port of Mukalla Salem Basamir on Tuesday.
In a post on social media platform X, Prince Khalid thanked Basamir for his heroic and humanitarian role in ensuring safety and protecting lives and property at the port.
The Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen carried out a limited airstrike in December targeting foreign military support at the Port of Mukalla in the Hadramaut governorate, where calm has been restored after a period of tension.
In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency following the strikes, coalition spokesman Major General Turki Al-Maliki said two ships coming from the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates entered the Port of Mukalla without obtaining official permits from the Joint Forces Command of the Coalition.
“The crews of the two ships disabled their tracking systems and unloaded a large quantity of weapons and combat vehicles to support the Southern Transitional Council forces in the eastern governorates of Yemen (Hadramaut and Al-Mahra) with the aim of fueling the conflict. This is a clear violation of the truce and the pursuit of a peaceful solution, as well as a violation of UN Security Council Resolution No. 2216,” said the spokesman.