They’re back! Saudi astronauts return safely to Earth after mission to International Space Station

Update They’re back! Saudi astronauts return safely to Earth after mission to International Space Station
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The first view of the four after the safely landed back on Earth. (AXIOM Space screengrab)
Update They’re back! Saudi astronauts return safely to Earth after mission to International Space Station
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The crew includes commander, former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, and pilot John Shoffner, flanked by Saudis Ali Al-Qarni and Rayyanah Barnawi. (AXIOM Space)
Update They’re back! Saudi astronauts return safely to Earth after mission to International Space Station
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Updated 31 May 2023
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They’re back! Saudi astronauts return safely to Earth after mission to International Space Station

They’re back! Saudi astronauts return safely to Earth after mission to International Space Station
  • Rayyanah Barnawi first Saudi Arabian and Arab woman to go into space
  • Two Saudi astronauts carried out 8 days of significant research aboard the ISS

JEDDAH: The second all-private mission to fly to the International Space Station returned to Earth off the coast of Florida on Wednesday, carrying two Saudi astronauts following eight days of scientific research aboard the ISS.

The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying them parachuted down onto the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Panama City, Florida, after a 12-hour return flight and blazing re-entry plunge through Earth's atmosphere.
The splashdown was carried live by a joint webcast presented by SpaceX and the company behind the mission, Axiom Space.

Mission Specialists Ali Alqarni and Rayyanah Barnawi participated in experiments with Saudi school children as part of their eight-day stay on ISS.

When the door of the capsule opened Rayyanah Barnawi, the first Arab woman to orbit Earth, gave a thumbs up to the camera.

The four astronauts were helped out of the capsule by crew before boarding a helicopter to land where they are due to be flown to Cape Canaveral by plane, where they will meet their families.

 

The touchdown concluded the second space station mission organized, equipped and trained entirely at private expense by Axiom, a 7-year-old Houston-based venture headed by NASA's former ISS program manager.

The Saudi government picked up the multimillion-dollar tab for its two astronauts: Rayyanah Barnawi, a stem cell researcher who became the first Saudi woman in space; and fighter pilot Ali al-Qarni.
The Axiom 2 crew was led by retired NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, 63, who holds the US record for most time spent in orbit with 665 days in space over three long-duration missions to the ISS, including 10 spacewalks.

During the mission tasks involved working with cutting-edge technologies, while the two Saudis acted as global ambassadors in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.

 

 

TIMELINE: AX-2 mission’s return to Earth

Some do argue that strictly speaking Barnawi was not the first Arab woman to enter space.

Indeed, in August 2022, Sara Sabry became the first Arab woman and the first Egyptian to fly to space on a brief suborbital ride operated by the Blue Origin astro-tourist venture of Jeff Bezos.

But Barnawi was the first to enter space and orbit Earth.
The ISS stay of Alqarni and Barnawi was also notable for overlapping with that of Sultan Alneyadi, an ISS Expedition-69 crew member from the United Arab Emirates, marking the first time three astronauts from the Arab world were aboard the space station together.
 




The Axiom Mission-2 and Expedition 69 crew members pose for a portrait together during dinner time aboard the International Space Station. (NASA)

In an emotional farewell ceremony at the end of the mission on Monday, the Axiom-2 crew members reflected on their time in space.

Barnawi said: “Every story comes to an end, and this is only the beginning of a new era for our country and our region.”

Al-Qarni, who with Barnawi became the first Saudi to visit the space station, said: “This is our last day in our great mission. We have achieved all our tasks and it will benefit our country and people in the future.”

Both the astronauts completed 14 pioneering experiments in microgravity, three of which were dedicated to educational and motivational purposes with the participation of 12,000 Saudi students in 47 different locations across the Kingdom.

With them, the craft returned to Earth with a cargo including NASA hardware and data from over 20 different experiments.




The capsule retrieve from the sea. (SpaceX)

The flight launched on May 21 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and docked with the station on May 22.

The Axiom 2 mission, which launched on May 21, was the latest in a series of space expeditions bankrolled by private investment capital and wealthy passengers rather than by taxpayer dollars as NASA seeks to expand commercial access to low-Earth orbit.
Axiom, which sent its first four-member astronaut team to ISS in April 2022, also has signed a contract with the U.S. space agency to build the first commercial addition to the orbiting laboratory.
California-based SpaceX, founded by Twitter owner and Tesla Inc electric carmaker CEO Elon Musk, supplied the Falcon 9 rocket and crew capsule that ferried Axiom’s team to and from orbit and controlled the flight.
NASA furnished the launch site at its Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, and assumed responsibility for the Axiom crew during their stay aboard the space station, orbiting some 250 miles (400 km) above Earth. 

(With agencies)


Saudi Arabia hosts postal union conference

Saudi Arabia hosts postal union conference
Updated 29 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia hosts postal union conference

Saudi Arabia hosts postal union conference

RIYADH: More than 190 countries are participating in the fourth Extraordinary Congress of the Universal Postal Union, held in Riyadh.

The five-day conference, which began on Sunday and will continue until Oct. 5, will study opportunities to expand membership to include more players in the postal sector and address the pressing issues facing the global postal system.

Minister of Transport Saleh Al-Jasser highlighted the Saudi government’s interest in enhancing cooperation between the member states of the union, developing standards for providing postal services, supporting e-commerce, stimulating the digital economy, and adopting the best innovative technologies in postal and logistical services.

Anef bin Ahmad Abanomai, president of Saudi Post Corporation, said: “I am really appreciating the government’s great interest in the postal and logistics sector in the Kingdom as Riyadh plays an essential role in promoting the growth, development and interconnectedness of the postal sector.”

Masahiko Metoki, director general of the Universal Postal Union, said: “Through this Congress‎, we aim to strengthen the role and position of the UPU as a supporter of the interconnectedness of the global postal network.

“This will be carried out by building a comprehensive regulatory framework, developing our postal products, and enhancing our services and financial capabilities to keep pace with the technical development,” he said.


Saudi Arabia condemns burning of Qur’an in Sweden

Saudi Arabia condemns burning of Qur’an in Sweden
Updated 01 October 2023
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Saudi Arabia condemns burning of Qur’an in Sweden

Saudi Arabia condemns burning of Qur’an in Sweden

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned and denunced the burning of a copy of the "Holy Qur’an" by an extremist in Malmo, Sweden, state news agency SPA reported on Sunday.

The incident was carried out with the knowledge of the local authorities, SPA reported. 
The ministry reiterated the Kingdom's rejection of such flagrant acts that have been repeated systematically in a number of European cities under the guise of freedom of expression.
The Kingdom, the ministry said, calls on the Swedish authorities to urgently deal with such acts and stop giving permission to extremist groups to carry out acts that fuel hatred and racism.


Saudi Arabia condemns terrorist attack in Ankara

Saudi Arabia condemns terrorist attack in Ankara
Updated 36 min 50 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia condemns terrorist attack in Ankara

Saudi Arabia condemns terrorist attack in Ankara

RIYADH: The Saudi Foreign Ministry said the Kingdom condemns the terrorist attack in Ankara and affirms its rejection of all forms of violence. 

Turkiye’s government said on Sunday two terrorists carried out a bomb attack in front of the Interior Ministry buildings in Ankara, adding one of them died in the explosion and the other was “neutralized” by authorities there.

An explosion was heard near the parliament and ministerial buildings, Turkish media had earlier reported, and broadcasters showed footage of debris scattered on a street nearby.

 


NEOM, Maysalward to strengthen young gaming talent with launch of NEOM Game Dev Challenge

NEOM, Maysalward to strengthen young gaming talent with launch of NEOM Game Dev Challenge
Updated 01 October 2023
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NEOM, Maysalward to strengthen young gaming talent with launch of NEOM Game Dev Challenge

NEOM, Maysalward to strengthen young gaming talent with launch of NEOM Game Dev Challenge

RIYADH: NEOM, the global development taking shape in northwest Saudi Arabia, has joined forces with Maysalward, the pioneering mobile game studio from the Middle East, in an exciting collaboration to launch the NEOM Game Dev Challenge.

The pilot program has just begun with the goal of empowering the next generation of game developers in the Kingdom, starting in Riyadh.

The initiative is designed to harness the burgeoning talent pool of youth within Saudi Arabia, targeting students aged between 15 and 17. The NEOM Game Dev Challenge offers a unique platform for students to embark on a journey of learning, designing, developing, and ultimately launching their own mobile games, and supports Saudi Arabia’s progress as a regional game development hub in line with Vision 2030’s economic diversification goals.

Maysalward, a mobile game studio founded in 2003, has consistently led the charge in mobile gaming innovation, boasting a portfolio of captivating games and a legacy of nurturing young talent. The studio was named among the top 30 developers and publishers in the Middle East and North Africa region by Pocket Gamer in 2022, while its founder scooped the award for Mobile Game Legend in 2023.

Nour Khrais, founder of Maysalward, said: “Partnering with NEOM for this transformative initiative is a significant step. Our shared vision is to empower the next generation of game developers in Saudi Arabia. With the rapid growth of mobile phone ownership among the youth, now is the opportune moment to harness and nurture their potential. I’m personally thrilled to be a part of kickstarting this groundbreaking project in Saudi Arabia.”

The vision of building a future-focused community in NEOM harmonizes with Maysalward’s commitment to education and innovation. The NEOM Game Dev Challenge will offer students a blend of hands-on experience and academic enrichment to transfer knowledge and accelerate Saudi Arabia’s mobile gaming landscape.

Wayne Borg, managing director of media industries, entertainment, and culture at NEOM, said: “Our partnership with Maysalward highlights NEOM’s commitment to nurturing youth and fostering digital innovation in Saudi Arabia. The NEOM Game Dev Challenge aims to spark transformation, fueling the creativity of the Kingdom’s young talents and driving our mission to become an elite global media hub for game development.”

Students will have the unique opportunity to benefit from mentorship by the Maysalward team, ensuring they receive technical guidance and invaluable insights into the global gaming market. The program will conclude with an award ceremony for the students and their parents, set to take place in Riyadh in December.

The winning team’s school will be awarded a NEOM Gaming Mini-Lab featuring a combination of hardware and software for students to work on game projects, further encouraging innovation and growth within the mobile game development industry in Saudi Arabia.


New indoor zoo set to open in Jeddah

New indoor zoo set to open in Jeddah
Updated 01 October 2023
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New indoor zoo set to open in Jeddah

New indoor zoo set to open in Jeddah

JEDDAH: Visitors to Jeddah will soon be able to take a walk on the wild side when a new indoor zoo opens its doors on Tuesday.

As part of the Jeddah Events Calendar, the zoo is the latest attraction to be unveiled in the Red Sea port city.

Open daily from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., it will house creatures including predators, rare species, birds, reptiles, and domestic animals in an enclosed, air-conditioned forest garden setting.

To book tickets, visit https://tickets.saudievents.sa/ar/d/4059/jeddah-indoor-zoo