Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, February 14: On Tuesday Saudi Arabia decided to boost woman power and to send its first ever woman astronaut on a space mission later this year. This was recently disclosed in a state media, in the move to revamp the kingdom's ultra-conservative image.

According to the reports from Saudi Press Agency, Rayyana Barnawi will join fellow Saudi male astronaut Ali Al-Qarni on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS) "during the second quarter of 2023.”

Also Read: National State of Emergency in New Zealand as Cyclone Gabrielle causes havoc

They also disclosed the astronauts "will join the crew of the AX-2 space mission" and the space flight will "launch from the USA". Saudi Arabia is one of the richest oil country in the world, will soon be following the footsteps of the neighbouring country United Arab Emirates. UAE in the year 2019 became the first Arab country to send one of its citizens into space.

This is one of the proud moment for Saudi Arabia as it is booting the woman power. Previously, astronaut Hazzaa al-Mansoori spent eight days on the ISS. Another fellow Emirati, Sultan al-Neyadi, will also make a voyage later this month.

Nicknamed the "Sultan of Space", 41-year-old Neyadi will become the first Arab astronaut to spend six months in space when he blasts off for the ISS aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

In 2018, Saudi Arabia set up a space programme and last year launched another to send astronauts into space, all part of Prince Salman's Vision 2030 agenda for economic diversification.

- With inputs from agencies

Join Whatsapp Channel