NASA announces the launch date of the vehicle that will carry the first Saudi woman into space

Weather of Arabia - NASA's Space Operations Room announced the launch date of the historic space mission for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which will include sending the first female astronaut to the International Space Station.

And “NASA for Space Operations” stated in a tweet on Friday, that the operation known as “Axiom Mission 2” (AX-2) will be launched on May 21, when the launch will take place at exactly five o’clock and 37 minutes in the afternoon EST (i.e. midday). night and 37 minutes Riyadh time). The AX-2 crew includes Saudi pilot Rayana Barnawi, a breast cancer researcher, and astronaut Ali Al-Qarni.

Launch Update: @NASA , @Axiom_Space , & @SpaceX are targeting no earlier than 5:37 p.m. EDT Sunday, May 21, for launch of Axiom Mission 2 to the @Space_Station . (1/2)

— NASA Space Operations (@NASASpaceOps) May 5, 2023

At the International Space Station, they will meet up with Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, who is currently on the first long-term space mission in the Arab world.

Also on board will be Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut who is making her fourth trip to the International Space Station, and John Shoffner, a businessman from Tennessee.

The mission received its official launch date last month, with Axiom Space and NASA officials announcing that it would head to the International Space Station on May 8. But a few days ago, it was announced that the launch has been postponed.