ISLAMABAD: Namira Salim, the first female astronaut from Pakistan, claimed that she and the other astronauts learned how to equip spacesuits and parachutes on the first training day in the US.
According to her statement, which was released from the United States, “We are also trained about the functionality of our custom-made seats in the spaceship and how to fasten and unfasten our seat belts, so we leave our seats in zero gravity well oriented and take the necessary steps to maximize our experience in space.”
In addition, she mentioned learning the art of making gentle movements to avoid colliding with windows or fellow astronauts and how to navigate naturally while floating in zero gravity.
Salim expressed anticipation for the second day of training, which she described as promising and full of surprises, and promised to share the details of this exciting phase.
Notably, Namira Salim holds the distinction of being Pakistan’s first woman astronaut and has achieved the remarkable feat of hoisting Pakistan’s flag at both the North Pole on April 21, 2007 and the South Pole on January 8, 2008.
Before embarking on her journey to space, Namira Salim met with the Caretaker Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Murtaza Solangi, last month. She briefed the Federal Minister during the meeting about her preparations for the upcoming space mission.
Namira Salim’s determination to raise Pakistan’s flag in space signifies the country’s growing presence in space exploration and is a significant achievement for the nation. Her endeavor also serves to portray Pakistan in a positive light as a peaceful and progressive country. —APP
