SpaceX Makes History by Sending Saudi Arabia's First Woman Astronaut to the International Space Station

Rayyanah Barnawi, a researcher in stem cells, was supported by the Saudi Arabian government and became the first female from the country to travel to space. Ali al-Qarni, a Royal Saudi Air Force fighter pilot, accompanied her.

On Sunday, Saudi Arabia sent its first astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) through a costly chartered flight, according to AP News.

NASA's New Price List

(Photo : by FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)
People watch a screen in Riyadh on May 21, 2023 as a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Axiom Mission 2 astronauts prepares to lift off from pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Two Saudi astronauts, including the first Saudi woman, will blast off from Florida on May 21 on a private mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

The crew, which included a retired NASA astronaut currently employed by the company responsible for organizing the journey, and a US businessman who owns a sports car racing team, were launched into space via SpaceX from the Kennedy Space Center.

They are expected to arrive at the space station on Monday morning in their capsule and are scheduled to spend a little over a week there before returning home with a splashdown off the coast of Florida.

The four astronauts are the first from their country to ride a rocket since 1985, when a Saudi prince rode aboard the shuttle Discovery.

NASA has released a new list of prices, indicating that each individual will be charged $2,000 daily for food while on a space mission. Furthermore, sleeping bags and other necessary equipment will cost up to $1,500 per person.

If you require your belongings to be sent to the space station earlier, expect to pay approximately $10,000 per pound ($20,000 per kilogram), the same cost for disposing of them afterward. If you wish to retrieve your items in good condition, you will need to pay twice the original fee.

What Visitors Can Do at the ISS

Visitors can explore and utilize most facilities during their time at the station. They will conduct experiments, take pictures of Earth, and communicate with school students back on Earth. Additionally, they will showcase how kites can fly in space by attaching them to a fan.

NASA has decided to embrace space tourism and plans to conduct two private missions every year after avoiding it for a long time. On the other hand, the Russian Space Agency has been offering space tourism on and off for many years.

NASA's space station program manager, Joel Montalbano, stated their responsibility is to enlarge their operations worldwide in low-Earth orbit.

After the launch, SpaceX's first-stage booster returned to Cape Canaveral, a delightful surprise for the audience, including around 60 Saudis. Matt Ondler from Axiom described the day as incredibly thrilling.

Space tourism has gained immense popularity recently, with many individuals expressing their desire to experience the unique perspective that comes from being out among the stars. NASA's decision to embrace this trend marks a significant shift for the organization and opens up new opportunities for private companies interested in partnering with them.

While some may view these prices as excessive, it is essential to remember that sending humans into space is incredibly complex and challenging. Every aspect of a mission must be carefully planned and executed to the smallest detail, making it one of the most expensive undertakings known to humankind.

Despite these challenges, people continue to be drawn toward space exploration for many reasons. From conducting groundbreaking research on our planet's climate and environment to studying distant galaxies far beyond our reach - there is no limit to what we can accomplish if we work together towards common goals.

As technology advances at breakneck speeds every year - who knows where humankind will venture next? Even further into deep-space missions exploring new planets or even colonizing other worlds entirely!