A Saudi Arabian astronaut is set to fly into space for the first time on Sunday. Cancer researcher from Saudi Arabia, Rajana Barnawi, is part of the crew that will depart from the Cape Canaveral spaceport, in the US state of Florida, to the International Space Station (ISS). The four astronauts will travel in a Dragon capsule from the US company SpaceX and will spend ten days on the ISS.
First participation in Saudi Arabia’s ISS mission
The crew also includes Barnawi compatriot Ali Al-Karni, American astronaut Peggy Whitson and American businessman John Shoffner, who will pilot the spacecraft. The mission is organized by the American company Axiom Space. For Saudi Arabia, it is the first participation in an ISS mission.