Saudi Gazette report

WASHINGTON — Saudi Ambassador to the United States Princess Reema bint Bandar met Saudi astronauts Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali Al-Qarni in Houston.

Ali and Rayyanah will carry out 11 scientific experiments during their space trip which they will take part with the Ax-2 space mission’s crew, Princess Reema said.

The Saudi ambassador visited NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston and toured the facilities there including the Mission Control Center. "I saw our astronauts in training," the princess said.

She said Rayyanah Barnawi will be the first Arab and Muslim female astronaut.

She thanked NASA and Axiom Space for their hospitality.

In February, Saudi Arabia announced that it will be sending the first Saudi female astronaut Rayyanah Barnawi and a Saudi male astronaut Ali Al-Qarni to the International Space Station during the second quarter of 2023.