First Female Saudi Astronaut Captures Stunning Images of Mecca from Space
Rayyanah Barnawi, Saudi Arabia first female astronaut, has embarked on an incredible journey to space, and she recently shared awe-inspiring aerial images of Mecca. Barnawi, along with another Saudi astronaut, is part of Axiom Space second private mission, which launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the United States.
Through her official social media account, Barnawi posted a video of Mecca from space, highlighting the Grand Mosque and describing its brilliance.
As a 34-year-old biomedical scientist, she plans to conduct vital research on stem cells and breast cancer during her 10-day stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS), which departed from NASA Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
Joining Barnawi on Axiom Mission 2 are Ali Alqarni, the second male astronaut from Saudi Arabia, along with Peggy Whitson and John Shoffner from the United States. The crew will conduct over 20 scientific and technological investigations during their time aboard the orbiting laboratory.
These include studying the effects of space travel on human health and exploring advancements in rain-seeding technologies.
Barnawi experiments will draw upon her nine years of experience as a research lab technician at the Stem Cell and Tissue Re-engineering Program of the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh. Her groundbreaking work aims to contribute to advancements in medical research and technology.