RIYADH: Michael Ratney, the US envoy to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), has extended a message of well wishes and support to the two Saudi astronauts scheduled to participate in Axiom Mission 2 on Sunday, Arab media reported.
The Ambassador said: “On behalf of the US government, congratulations on the next Axiom 2 launch that will take Saudi astronauts Ali Al-Qarni and Rayyanah Barnawi, joined by Americans John Shoffner and Peggy Whitson to the International Space Station (ISS).”
The space mission is scheduled for 5:37 p.m. on Sunday, NASA said and it will take woman astronaut Barnawi and her colleague Al-Qarni to the ISS with astronaut Whitson and business innovator and pilot Shoffner.
US Envoy Wishes Saudi Astronauts Well Before Space Mission
Ratney maintained: “The US and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) have been associates in space exploration. Now, the 1st Saudi woman astronaut will fly into space, the result of the Kingdom’s outstanding transformation as per Vision 2030, and a reflection of our mutual resolve to scientific cooperation in the empowerment of female workforce.”
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) signed up to the NASA-led Artemis Accords during US President Joe Biden’s trip last July and Al-Qarni and Barnawi completed a rigorous 9-month training program in the United States to prepare for their space mission, the two astronauts spending time at Johnson Space Center.
Ratney said: “Our collaboration and cooperation, along with perseverance, courage, and a spirit of exploration, have made this launch possible. “The whole world will be watching SpaceX make its historic journey to the ISS.”
In a video produced by the US Embassy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the Ambassador also shed light on Prince Sultan bin Salman’s mission on NASA’s space shuttle in 1985.
السفير الأمريكي في المملكة #مايكل_راتني قبل موعد إطلاق مهمة Axiom-2: "يُثبت رواد الفضاء للشباب السعوديين والأمريكيين أنه لا يمكنهم فقط أن يحلموا بالنجوم، بل يمكنهم حرفياً الوصول إليها." 🇺🇸🇸🇦#نحو_الفضاء pic.twitter.com/Cnw7akuXHY
— U.S. Embassy Riyadh (@USAinKSA) May 21, 2023
He added: “Many people in the US probably do not realize this, but His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salman also recorded a flight on Space Shuttle Discovery in 1985.”
The Ambassador said that 4 astronauts on Sunday’s mission were showing young Saudis and US citizens that they can also achieve their dreams.
