Commercial, private space flights and missions spearhead space-based economy

Special Commercial, private space flights and missions spearhead space-based economy
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Two Saudi astronauts will be on a SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket aboard a Dragon spacecraft when the Axiom Mission 2 takes off on May 8 bound for the International Space Station. (NASA)
Special Commercial, private space flights and missions spearhead space-based economy
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Official photos of the Axiom Mission 2 (AX-2) crew (from left): Pilot John P. Shoffner, commander Peggy Wilson, mission specialist Rayyanah Barnawi, and mission specialist Ali Al-Qarni. (Supplied)
Special Commercial, private space flights and missions spearhead space-based economy
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The Dragon spacecraft that will carry the SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket. (ESA)
Special Commercial, private space flights and missions spearhead space-based economy
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Space Perspective's Spaceship Neptune capsule, the world's first carbon-neutral space craft. (Supplied)
Special Commercial, private space flights and missions spearhead space-based economy
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Preparing for the mission. (Axiom photo)
Special Commercial, private space flights and missions spearhead space-based economy
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Preparing for the mission. (Axiom photo)
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Updated 08 April 2023
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Commercial, private space flights and missions spearhead space-based economy

Commercial, private space flights and missions spearhead space-based economy
  • Axiom Space will launch a planned private crew mission to the ISS, with two Saudi astronauts on board
  • Space tourism is increasing in popularity as costs drop and more infrastructure is built

JEDDAH: “Space: The final frontier,” are words many Star Trek fans worldwide know by heart. Though humanity is not yet in the year 2265, it’s an exciting time for the space industry as breakthrough aerospace discoveries are being made, a booming space economy is being established, and mankind is off on its next big adventure: outer space.

Humans have come a long way since the Sputnik satellite’s orbit around the Earth in 1957. Space exploration is reaching new heights today, exploring tourism ventures, private investment, and finding solutions to our Earthly problems through scientific experiments.




Axiom-2 mission patch. (Supplied)

With time and two superpowers’ unprecedented successes and failures, the US-Soviet space race dominated space exploration and planted a seed, or flag, for other nations to follow. After joining forces, the two superpowers built the largest structure in space, the International Space Station, but more recently they have been giving way to new players.

Now, 77 government space agencies with more than 600 astronauts, cosmonauts and taikonauts have made it beyond Earth’s orbit, with two more Saudi astronauts due to head into space on May 8.

Saudi astronaut and scientist Rayyanah Barnawi and mission specialist Ali Alqarni, graduates of the Kingdom’s inaugural national astronaut program, will join Peggy Whitson and John P. Shoffner on the SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket aboard a Dragon spacecraft as part of the Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2) to the ISS.




The four astronauts

On Thursday, Axiom Space, a leading provider of human spaceflight services to the ISS and a developer of human-rated space infrastructure, hosted a virtual press conference on the upcoming mission, with leaders from NASA, SpaceX, and the Saudi Space Commission.

“On this mission, the most important thing we can do for the (Saudi) human spaceflight program is microgravity research and STEM outreach. From our side on the Saudi Space Commission, we are investigating 11 groundbreaking microgravity experiments. And we are also capitalizing on this opportunity to have an outreach with three experiments,” Mishaal Ashemimry, microgravity research lead at the Saudi Space Commission, said during the conference.

“The three experiments are meant to engage over 12,000 students across 47 different locations in Saudi Arabia, the goal of which is to have them participate in this mission, as well as enlighten them and plant the seed of curiosity in every child across Saudi Arabia, hopefully becoming future astronauts and future scientists that can enable us to do missions to the Moon and eventually Mars,” she added.

To prepare themselves for the rigors of their 37-hour spaceflight, the crew members who have not undergone the rigors of NASA training train specifically for the upcoming mission.

“The training that NASA astronauts receive starts with basic training, where they learn quite a bit about astronomics and other similar courses,” Axiom Space CEO and president Michael Suffredini told Arab News during the conference.




Signing of the partnership deal between Axiom Space and the Saudi Space Commission to send the first female Saudi astronaut to space. In the picture are Michael T. Suffredini (left), president & CEO of Axiom Space; Abdullah bin Amer Alswaha (center), Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology; and Dr. Saudi Al-Tamimi, governor of the Saudi Communication, Space and Technology Commission and Acting CEO for Saudi Space Commission. (Supplied)

He added that NASA astronauts also train extensively on ISS systems and other systems required on the station.

“Our astronauts trained for these particular missions are trained very specifically for the things they're going to do in orbit and the systems they’ll utilize,” Suffredini said.

“The reason why we brought in a professional astronaut, like Peggy in this case, (is that) they’re the ones that have to help them when they come across things that they’re not comfortable with or not sure about. Instead, we’re able to let the private astronauts train a little differently and focus on their mission, because we have a professional astronaut flying with them.”


ALSO READ: When a Saudi went to space


Sharing that sentiment, Ashemimry added: “Our astronauts train specifically for this mission and then for longer-duration missions. So, depending on the mission itself, and the opportunity, we train the astronauts for whatever they’re planning to do for that mission.

“So, to all of us, they are still astronauts, and they’re going to be doing their job and they’re going to fulfill the duties for this mission.”

The Ax-2 mission will be the first private space mission to include both private-sector astronauts and astronauts representing foreign governments. It is also the first private mission commanded by a woman.




Official photos of the Axiom Mission 2 (AX-2) crew (clockwise, from top left): Peggy Wilson, Ax-2 commander; Rayyanah Barnawi, mission specialist; Ali Al-Qarni, mission specialist; and John P. Shoffner, Ax-2 pilot. (Supplied) 

Once docked, the Axiom Space astronauts will spend 12 days aboard the ISS, carrying out an entire mission consisting of science, outreach and commercial activities.

Over the past few decades, scientists have invented numerous remarkable technologies aboard the ISS, many of which led to technological and scientific discoveries with significant impact on life on Earth.

Barnawi and Alqarni will conduct 14 experiments, including six studies focused on developing future therapeutic applications, four experiments studying immune dysfunction in tumor organoid models that can help to predict and prevent cancer, three on understanding how commercial spaceflight crew members adapt to microgravity, and one exploring cloud seeding in microgravity.

Space flight is now a venerable industry. As government agencies prioritize the moon, others are finding opportunities in commercial space flight. It is estimated that more than 10,000 firms and approximately 5,000 investors are involved in the space industry. Morgan Stanley estimates that the global space industry could generate revenue of more than $1 trillion in 2040, up from the current $350 billion.




Rayyanah Barnawi training to use specialized methods and equipment for preparing food in space. (Supplied)

What is coming next is truly the next frontier. Space tourism, a niche segment of the space economy and industry, has been operating for more than a decade, offering suborbital space flights. Companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic offer travelers a seat at a cost of tens of millions of dollars. Now, other companies are offering cheaper options to participate in similar spectacular experiences that are just as worthy as their more expensive counterparts.

Many experts believe we are experiencing a “space renaissance,” as technological solutions over the past decade have significantly reduced costs, allowing companies to think outside the box and offer cross-sector collaborations.

Lower costs have opened the door to start-ups while encouraging established aerospace companies to explore novel opportunities that once seemed too expensive or complicated.




Ali Alqarni (left) training for the mission. (Supplied)

But why go to space at all? One could argue that a virtual reality headset can offer similar views to those experienced by an astronaut.

“There are a number of reasons and, essentially, the core of our business is that we’re taking people to space to have that quintessential astronaut experience of seeing a planet in that context,” Jane Poynter, founder and co-CEO of space tourism company Space Perspective, told Arab News.

“Now they see the thin blue line of our atmosphere, they see the planet in the context of this incredible black void of space. When put in that context, that makes astronauts deeply connected with our planet, humanity and inhabitants.

“They come back and get involved in various environmental and social causes. That’s one way we’re going to address global challenges; we need to view them in a global context. That’s what space flight does for us.”

Space Perspective announced plans last June to take tourists up to the stratosphere aboard a balloon-borne pressurized capsule called Spaceship Neptune. Poynter told Arab News that the company is “an experience company” committed to providing access to space in mere hours, reaching an altitude of 100,000 feet using a hydrogen balloon.




Space Perspective's Spaceship Neptune capsule, the world's first carbon-neutral space craft. (Supplied)

The need for sustainability in space exploration and the exploitation of space is becoming more evident with the growing desire for the expansion of human activities beyond Earth’s orbit, which is being pursued by the public and private sectors alike.

What was once one of the biggest impediments to progress in space flights was the lack of deployable technologies enabling outposts to be established. Now, Space Perspective is manufacturing the world’s only carbon neutral spaceship dubbed Spaceship Neptune, at their facility located at the NASA Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center.

“Right now, we’ve only seen around 650 people go to space,” said Poynter. “In just a couple of years, we’re going to start seeing thousands of people, many of whom never thought they were going to be able to go to space.”




Axiom Mission 2 pilot John P. Shoffner and mission commander Peggy Wilson reviewing their mission plan ahead of take-off. (Axiom photo)

She added that the company plans to expand operations at departure sites and has begun accepting bookings for 2025.

Poynter also noted that many people are curious about the possibility of traveling to space, a place she said many think is “out there and for others to pursue when, in fact, it’s attainable,” though there are challenges to overcome in scaling up operations.

She said: “Having thousands of people going to space is difficult to figure out, if they’re going to the International Space Station or one of the other stations being built.

“There are lots of business plans that are relying on at least hundreds of people, and we’re taking this from the mission to space for the few to the journey to space for the many.”

 


Jeddah governor meets Gambian consul general

Jeddah governor meets Gambian consul general
Updated 03 October 2023
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Jeddah governor meets Gambian consul general

Jeddah governor meets Gambian consul general

Jeddah Gov. Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi on Sunday met the Consul General of Gambia Abdullah Conte in the Red Sea port city.

At a separate meeting, in Riyadh, Saudi Deputy Minister for International Multilateral Affairs Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Rassi received the Malaysian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Datuk Wan Zaidi Wan Abdullah.

During the two meetings, all sides discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern and ways to further strengthen relations.
 


Tourism boom for Saudi Arabia with 58% growth in arrivals in 2023, ranks 2nd globally

Tourism boom for Saudi Arabia with 58% growth in arrivals in 2023, ranks 2nd globally
Updated 04 October 2023
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Tourism boom for Saudi Arabia with 58% growth in arrivals in 2023, ranks 2nd globally

Tourism boom for Saudi Arabia with 58% growth in arrivals in 2023, ranks 2nd globally
  • Riyadh hosted World Tourism Day on Sept. 27-28, reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to the global tourism sector

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has been ranked second globally in terms of tourist arrivals during the first seven months of 2023, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The Kingdom saw a 58 percent growth in tourist numbers up to the end of July, according to the Ministry of Tourism, compared to the same period in 2019.

The data was sourced last month from the UN World Tourism Organization and came from the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer.

Riyadh hosted World Tourism Day on Sept. 27-28, reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to the global tourism sector.

Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb said that the achievement “would not have been possible without the support of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and the Crown Prince,” the SPA reported.

Al-Khateeb added that the ranking strengthened the country’s status as a global tourist destination and that the substantial rise in arrivals reflected the confidence travelers had in the variety and quality of tourism options available within the Kingdom.


Saudi nomad publishes book on 400-day adventure around the world

Saudi nomad publishes book on 400-day adventure around the world
Updated 03 October 2023
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Saudi nomad publishes book on 400-day adventure around the world

Saudi nomad publishes book on 400-day adventure around the world

RIYADH: In a world of routine and conformity, it takes a free spirit to break away from the chains of convention and embark on a journey of self-discovery. Rakan Al-Mogbil, a nomad from Saudi Arabia, is one such individual who chose to abandon the comfort of his settled life and explore the world in 400 days.

Al-Mogbil, who is showcasing his first book “Lost on the Map” at the Riyadh International Book Fair, told Arab News: “Being here is amazing because I get to tell my story at one the biggest book fairs in the Middle East.”

Speaking about the premise of his book, he said: “’Lost on the Map’ is a true story about how I sold my car and (left) everything behind just to travel and explore the world. I traveled more than 400 days in a row without coming back to my country and visited more than nine countries.”

Al-Mogbil said that leaving behind his family, job and possessions was challenging — and with a mere $800 monthly budget. Despite the obstacles, Al-Mogbil embraced a life of constant movement, seeking to unravel the mysteries of different cultures and landscapes.

“I did a lot of hitchhiking between countries. I traveled 1,500 km from Bangkok in Thailand to Malaysia with only hitchhiking.”

Being on a tight budget, Al-Mogbil did not use any costly means of transport, such as busses, rental cars or airplanes.

His journey included some bumps along the way: “Some people in some countries threatened me. I’m not going to mention more, but you’re going to find out in the book.”

Through encounters during his travels, he has come to recognize the common thread that binds humanity despite any superficial differences. “I always say travel for the people, not the places, because people will leave, but the places will remain,” he said.

“One of the stories is about my time in Mexico where I lived on a ranch for three months and found a lot of similarities between Mexican and Arab cultures.”

He said that Mexicans’ hospitality and kindness is similar to Arabs.

Al-Mogbil discovered his love for traveling by chance: “After I traveled to South Africa to study English, I fell in love with traveling just as COVID-19 hit and I had to go back home to Saudi Arabia.”

However, once the travel restrictions eased, he drew up a plan: “I then decided that I was going to quit my job, sell my car, and just continue exploring because there are always places in the world to see.”

He said that one day he hopes to translate his book into other languages such as English and Spanish.


Omani literature, culture in the spotlight at Riyadh International Book Fair

Omani literature, culture in the spotlight at Riyadh International Book Fair
Updated 03 October 2023
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Omani literature, culture in the spotlight at Riyadh International Book Fair

Omani literature, culture in the spotlight at Riyadh International Book Fair
  • Oman is ‘guest of honour’ country at the RIBF 2023

RIYADH: The Riyadh International Book Fair, or RIBF 2023, is attracting thousands of visitors daily. It offers its audience millions of books, new titles and manuscripts, as well as a space for intellectual and cultural dialogue.

Omani literature and culture is in the spotlight this year as the sultanate is the “guest of honour” country.

Oman’s pavilion reflects the cultural exchange and cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the sultanate. It represents its national culture, books and manuscripts, showcasing the distinctiveness of Omani culture.

The RIBF was launched by the Saudi Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission at its new headquarters at King Saud University on Sept. 28 and will continue until Oct. 7. It attracts publishers, intellectuals and content creators from all over the world.

Hassan Al-Matrooshi, cultural expert at the Omani Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, and a member of the Omani delegation, told Arab News: “This is a very important opportunity to be here in this big cultural event. This is one of the biggest and most important book fairs around the Arab world. So it’s an important opportunity to be here showing a lot of our cultural aspects, like poetry, novels, history and so many other things, also our arts and music.”

The Omani participation as a guest of honor was an affirmation of the rapprochement between the two countries, and an embodiment of the distinguished cultural relations and issues of concern to Arab culture and thinkers, Al-Matrooshi said.

“This comes within the framework of the deep, long and strong brotherly relationships between Oman and Saudi Arabia. It builds up and enhances all the cultural cooperations between the two countries. There are a lot of things we are aiming to achieve through this platform,” he said.

“Oman actually has been participating for a long time, but this year it’s our first time to be a guest of honor, which is very important.

“This is an opportunity to build up on what has already been built up through history, through a long experience,” Al-Matrooshi said.

“And this definitely will help to strengthen cultural exchange, cultural relations between the two countries. We have a lot to give to each other. Saudi Arabia is a great country with a huge history and civilization. Oman also has great history, culture, heritage. We have a lot of things in common; we speak the same language, share the same heritage, and we live in the same region. We have the same religion. So we feel here we are in our country. There are a lot of things that we can give, and there are a lot of things we can also gain from this opportunity,” he said.

“There are publishers and some official establishments (participating). Of course, the main organizer is the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, but we also have here the Ministry of Tourism and Heritage, Ministry of Auqaf and Religious Affairs, Sultan Qaboos University Cultural Club. As you see, there are a lot of establishments, official and also private publishers here, around ten publishers exhibiting their books.

“There is a huge amount of visitors and also publishers coming here, that is encouraging.

“The princes, high officials to intellectuals, poets, writers, all sorts of visitors. So this is an opportunity for them and us,” he said.

“Due to similarity we visit each other, every year we receive thousands of our Saudi brothers in Muscat and in Salalah during tourist season.

“We are having a lot of Saudis present on our occasions, cultural and tourism. I am still inviting them to come and see Oman and discover the beauty, the culture of Oman, and the history of their brotherly country to further deepen our ties.”

Al-Matrooshi said that visitors had flocked to the Oman pavilion after the opening last Thursday to see the rare manuscripts, art exhibition, musical shows and VR presentation on display.

The pavilion exhibits a collection of rare manuscripts that reflect Omani cultural history and the sultanate’s role in the Arab world, the connections among Arab countries and people throughout history, and their civilizational role in advancing humanity and serving scientific and cultural purposes.

The Omani pavilion displays diverse aspects of thought, culture, literature, art and heritage, and presents poetry evenings and art shows in which Omani novelists and intellectuals take part.

The pavilion is hosting a folkloric Omani group that performs popular arts, reflecting the diversity and richness of the country.

The outdoor area hosts theater shows featuring Saudi and Omani performances.


GCC secretary-general meets EU ambassador to Saudi Arabia ahead of ministerial meeting in Oman

GCC secretary-general meets EU ambassador to Saudi Arabia ahead of ministerial meeting in Oman
Updated 03 October 2023
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GCC secretary-general meets EU ambassador to Saudi Arabia ahead of ministerial meeting in Oman

GCC secretary-general meets EU ambassador to Saudi Arabia ahead of ministerial meeting in Oman
  • Relations between the two parties were reviewed at the meeting

RIYADH: The secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council met the EU’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday at the headquarters of the GCC in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi and Christophe Farnaud discussed the agenda of the joint ministerial meeting between the GCC and the EU, which is scheduled to take place on Oct. 9-10 in Oman.

Albudaiwi said the GCC countries and the EU were always seeking to increase cooperation and develop relations, a statement read.

Relations between the two parties were reviewed at the meeting, while progress in implementing the strategic partnership between the sides, and the joint work program 2022-2027 were also subjects of discussion.