Rayyanah Barnawi (Arabic: ريانة برناوي; born September 1988)[1][2] is a biomedical researcher[3] and astronaut. She is the first Saudi female astronaut, selected for Axiom Mission 2 as a mission specialist[4] by the Saudi Space Commission; her selection was officially announced on February 12, 2023.[5]
Rayyanah Barnawi | |
---|---|
ريانة برناوي | |
![]() Barnawi in 2023 | |
Born | September 1988 (age 35) Jeddah, Saudi Arabia |
Status | Active |
Space career | |
Time in space | 9 days, 5 hours and 27 minutes |
Selection | 2023 |
Missions | Axiom Mission 2 |
Education and research
editShe holds a Bachelor's degree in biomedical sciences from University of Otago. She also holds a Master's degree in Biomedical Sciences from Alfaisal University, where she studied the adhesion of breast cancer stem cells.
Astronaut
editWhen she was selected she was working as a research laboratory technician at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh. As part of the mission, she conducted mission experiments in her field.[6]
On May 22, 2023, Barnawi arrived at the International Space Station on-board SpaceX ship Crew Dragon Freedom.[7]
She is the first Saudi woman in space[8] and is considered as the 600th person to fly in Earth orbit.[9]
In 2024 she received the Visionary Award of the Middle East Institute.[10]
References
edit- ^ "Meet Rayyanah Barnawi, Ax-2 Mission Specialist". Axiom Space. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
- ^ "Get to Know Rayyanah Barnawi, Saudi Arabia's First Female Astronaut". Vogue. 16 February 2023.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia to send its first woman astronaut into space". The Independent. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ Alaeva, Liliia (14 February 2023). "Saudi Arabia will send a woman into space for the first time". Журнал The Universemagazine Space Tech. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ "In Line with Vision 2030, the Kingdom Returns to Space by Sending a Male and Female Astronaut to the International Space Station The official Saudi Press Agency". www.spa.gov.sa. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ Mike Wall (13 February 2023). "SpaceX to launch 1st Saudi woman to space on private Ax-2 mission". Space.com. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ "First Arab female astronaut reaches space station". BBC. 22 May 2023.
- ^ [1]
- ^ 600th person to orbit Earth lifts off on Ax-2 mission to space station
- ^ I voiced the Arabic greeting on Voyager’s Golden Record: International space cooperation offers a model for peace in today’s Middle East