{"id":36226,"date":"2023-05-22T12:55:11","date_gmt":"2023-05-22T08:55:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/?post_type=articles&p=36226"},"modified":"2023-05-22T14:04:24","modified_gmt":"2023-05-22T10:04:24","slug":"rayyanah-barnawi-first-saudi-woman-in-space","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/articles\/rayyanah-barnawi-first-saudi-woman-in-space\/","title":{"rendered":"Breaking Barriers In Space: Rayyanah Barnawi Becomes The First Saudi And Arab Woman To Embark On A Journey Beyond Earth"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Rayyanah
CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA – MAY 21: Saudi astronaut Rayyanah Barnawi waves before being brought to the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon spacecraft for launch from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center on May 21, 2023 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The crew will be flying to the International Space Station to conduct science experiments. (Photo by Joe Raedle\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In a historic moment for Saudi Arabia and the Arab world, Rayyanah Barnawi has shattered the glass ceiling and become the first Saudi woman to venture into space. Accompanied by her colleague, Ali Al Qarni, as well as Americans Peggy Whitson and John Shoffner, Rayyanah embarked on an awe-inspiring eight-day trip as part of the privately led Axiom 2 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Their journey commenced with the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in the early hours of Monday from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.<\/p>\n

The mission holds significant importance for Saudi Arabia, as it marks the maiden voyage of the country’s new astronaut program, which was announced just last year. The kingdom’s renewed ambition in space exploration comes after more than three decades since Prince Sultan bin Salman, the first Saudi citizen in space, embarked on a week-long trip aboard NASA’s space shuttle in 1985.<\/p>\n

\"Rayyanah
CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES – MAY 21: (—-EDITORIAL USE ONLY – MANDATORY CREDIT – ‘SAUDI SPACE COMMISSION \/ HANDOUT’ – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS—-) Former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson (not seen), pilot John Shoffner (not seen), and Saudi Space Commission astronauts Ali Alqarni (L) and the first Saudi woman to fly to space Rayyanah Barnawi (R) pose as the crew prepares for the Axiom Space Mission 2 (Ax-2) launch on May 21, 2023 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The four-person private astronaut Ax-2 crew will spend eight days on the International Space Station. (Photo by Saudi Space Commission \/ Handout\/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rayyanah’s inclusion in the Axiom 2 mission signifies a pivotal moment for Saudi women, as she represents the aspirations of all Saudi females. In a pre-launch video released by Axiom Space, the Houston-based company that facilitated Saudi Arabia’s participation, Rayyanah, who is a breast cancer researcher, expressed her overwhelming emotions, stating, “I never thought that I would ever be going to space, but at the same time, it feels like a dream come true. It’s an overwhelming feeling.” She further added, “It honestly feels like I am representing all Saudis’ ambitions, all females, and all researchers as well. It’s a big honor to be able to go to space and at the same time do the things that you love the most.”<\/p>\n

\"Rayyanah
CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES – MAY 21: (—-EDITORIAL USE ONLY – MANDATORY CREDIT – ‘SAUDI SPACE COMMISSION \/ HANDOUT’ – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS—-) Former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson (2nd L), pilot John Shoffner (2nd R), and Saudi Space Commission astronauts Ali Alqarni (R) and the first Saudi woman to fly to space Rayyanah Barnawi (L) prepare for the Axiom Space Mission 2 (Ax-2) launch on May 21, 2023 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The four-person private astronaut Ax-2 crew will spend eight days on the International Space Station. (Photo by Saudi Space Commission \/ Handout\/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rayyanah’s voyage represents not only a personal achievement but also a significant stride towards gender equality in Saudi Arabia. The nation’s “sustainable” astronaut program demonstrates a progressive mindset and a dedication to empowering women in various fields, including science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). By encouraging female representation in space exploration, Saudi Arabia is creating new role models for future generations and inspiring women to pursue their passions and dreams without limitations.<\/p>\n

As Rayyanah Barnawi gazes at our beautiful planet from the vantage point of the ISS, she is not just an astronaut; she is a symbol of determination, courage, and the limitless potential of Saudi women. .<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30736,"featured_media":36230,"template":"","format":"standard","categories":[260,35,4025],"yoast_head":"\nRayyanah Barnawi Becomes The First Saudi Woman In Space<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In a historic moment for Saudi Arabia, Rayyanah Barnawi shattered the glass ceiling and become the first Saudi woman to venture into space.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/articles\/rayyanah-barnawi-first-saudi-woman-in-space\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Breaking Barriers 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