Central idea: Saudi Arabia will send its first-ever woman astronaut on the US-led Axiom 2 space mission later this year, in the latest move to revamp the kingdom’s ultra-conservative image.

Axiom Mission 2

• Axiom Mission 2 is a private spaceflight mission organized by Axiom Space, a Houston-based aerospace company.
• The mission is scheduled to launch in 2023 and aims to send four private individuals on a 10-day trip to the International Space Station (ISS).
• Rayyana Barnawi will join fellow Saudi male astronaut Ali Al-Qarni on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS) during the second quarter of 2023.
• The mission is the second private crewed flight to the ISS, following the Inspiration4 mission by SpaceX.
• The crew is expected to undergo months of training, including simulations, physical conditioning, and emergency procedures.
• The mission is part of Axiom Space’s plan to establish a private space station attached to the ISS, which is expected to be launched in 2024.

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