In 2019, the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration announced a plan to send the first woman on the Moon within four years. The agency said it plans to return humans to the lunar surface for the first time since 1972, through its Artemis program. One country is planning to send its first woman to space while NASA is set to return to the Moon.
Today, the Saudi Space Commission SSC announced the launch of the Kingdom's first astronaut program, dedicated to training Saudi competent personnel for long and short-term space flights. SSC is an independent government entity founded in 2018 to lead and grow the Kingdom's nascent space sector.
Saudi astronauts will be able to conduct scientific experiments and research for the betterment of humanity in priority areas such as health, sustainability, and space technology.
The Saudi Astronaut Program is a part of the Kingdom's ambitious Vision 2030 and will send Saudi astronauts into space to serve humanity. One of the astronauts will be a Saudi woman whose mission to space will be a historic first for the Kingdom.
Human space flights boost the global leadership and competitiveness of countries in areas such as science, engineering, research and innovation. In the coming months, the Kingdom plans to launch its National Space Strategy, which will reveal space programs and initiatives that aim to serve humanity from space.
The Saudi Space Commission was founded in 2018 and hopes to make the Kingdom a leading player in the global space economy by harnessing the country's human capital and innovative spirit to develop a vibrant national space industry that contributes to global exploration, scientific research, and commercial growth.