Two Saudi astronauts Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni and the mission team crew have arrived at the International Space Station (ISS), after their spacecraft Dragon 2 successfully docked. NASA has announced the successful docking of Dragon 2 after 16 hours of the rocket launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The docking of the "Dragon 2" spacecraft with the ISS is a historic moment for the Saudi astronaut, Rayyanah Barnawi who becomes the first ever Arab woman to fly into space to the ISS. A historic moment also for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which is, as of now, the first Arabic country to send a woman on a space scientific mission just as it is also one of the few countries that has two astronauts on board the ISS simultaneously.

The mission crew which consists of four astronauts, Rayyanah Barnawi, Ali AlQarni, Peggy Whiston, and John Shoffner, were welcomed and greeted by the International Space Station team that wished them success in their endeavor. 

Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni arrive at the International Space Station.

Upon arrival, the mission crew of AX-2 changed their space suits and joined the ISS team preparing to carry out their mission in space, where they will conduct 14 pioneering research experiments in microgravity that are set to have an important scientific impact. The studies that will take place in space by the two Saudi astronauts range from human research and cell science to artificial rain in microgravity in order to develop space science and progress in sending more manned spacecraft to the moon and to Mars. In addition, the Saudi astronauts will also conduct three educational awareness experiments. This space program has placed the Kingdom as an important player in the global community of space science research and as a main investor in the service of humanity and its future.

The Saudi Space Commission confirmed that the astronauts, Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni, are fully trained and prepared to carry out their mission in space. SSC is also confident that they will accomplish the mission planned successfully and return safely to earth.

Click here to learn about the Axiom Mission 2 Astronauts.