Dubai | UAE Dr. Sultan Al Niedi into space. Along with Niadi, two other Saudi Arabian citizens are likely to reach space. Niedi, 41, is a former IT professional from Al Ain. Niedi will launch into space next spring aboard NASA’s SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. This is the first “long” space flight in the Arab world. The Niadi mission is part of NASA/SpaceX Crew-6. Niadi will be the second person from the UAE to board a floating science laboratory in space.
Two yet-to-be-named Saudis will join the station in the second quarter of 2023. Leave for a two-week stay. Axiom Space, a space company from the United States, will help both countries to ensure these missions. Saudi astronauts will reach space as a team for the first time. This includes the first Arab female astronaut from Saudi Arabia. Astronauts from two different Arab countries in space together will be historically significant. Axiom Space President Michael Saffredini said that space exploration will extend the Saudi mission to a larger part of the international community. “Space belongs to all mankind. Axiom Space is happy to train Saudi astronauts,” he said.
Prince Sultan bin Salman of Saudi Arabia was the first Arab astronaut to board the American Space Shuttle in 1985. It was short-lived. But the country did not maintain a long-term space program after that mission. It was a milestone for the Arab and Islamic world. Pictures of Prince Sultan reciting the Holy Qur’an and praying in the spaceship were circulated at the time. Later in 2019, Hissa Al Mansoori from the United Arab Emirates reached space. He stayed at the station for a week and carried out 16 scientific experiments.
There are four people in the UAE team who have received space training. The other two are Muhammad Al Mulla and Noora Al Matrushi. Saudi Arabia announced on National Day, September 22, 2022, that it will begin astronaut training. With this, it was confirmed that a woman will be included in the Saudi team.
