The first female Arab astronaut to reach the space station soon

The International Space Station (ISS) welcomed its first female Arab astronaut on Axiom Space's second private mission, marking a historic milestone in space exploration. Rayyanah Barnawi, a 34-year-old biomedical scientist, and one of two Saudi representatives on the mission, embarked on this journey aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that launched from the United States on Sunday. During her planned ten-day stay in orbit on the ISS, Barnawi intends to conduct significant research on stem cells and breast cancer. Her ambition extends beyond scientific endeavours as she aspires to inspire women across the Middle East, regardless of their backgrounds.

Rayyanah Barnawi shares Axiom Mission 2 with fellow Saudi mission specialist Ali Alqarni, the second male astronaut from Saudi Arabia to venture into space, as well as American commander Peggy Whitson and pilot John Shoffner. The crew's transportation to space occurred inside SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, perched atop the Falcon 9 rocket that took off from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 21:37 GMT on Sunday. The Dragon spacecraft autonomously docked with the ISS at 13:12 GMT on Monday.

During their stint aboard the orbital laboratory, the crew will conduct over 20 science and technology experiments. These experiments encompass the effects of space on human health and research into rain-seeding technology. Barnawi's experiments are rooted in her nine years of work as a research lab technician at the Stem Cell and Tissue Re-engineering Programme of King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh.

In a recent press conference, Barnawi expressed her deep sense of pride and honour in becoming the first female Saudi astronaut to venture into space. She eagerly anticipates sharing her experiences on the ISS with children worldwide through video link-ups.

"Being able to see their faces when they see astronauts from their region for the first time is very thrilling." Mishaal Ashemimry, a Saudi-American aerospace engineer and adviser to the Saudi Space Commission, said: "Our goals are to benefit all humanity through science. We hope this mission will inspire girls from various backgrounds to advance the human experience."

It is worth noting that Saudi Arabia only granted women the right to drive in 2018, and concerns about male guardianship laws restricting women's rights in the country continue to be raised by human rights groups. Nevertheless, the successful journey of Rayyanah Barnawi to the ISS stands as a remarkable achievement for gender equality in space exploration.