![]() ![]() They will also photograph lightning strikes and high-altitude transient luminous events (TLEs) known as sprites and test a wearable skinsuit that simulates Earth's gravity to counteract the negative effects of microgravity. The Ax-2 crew plans to conduct more than 20 different experiments, including research into stem cells, DNA-based nanomaterials and cancer countermeasures. Whitson is the second former NASA astronaut to fly for Axiom, following Michael Lopez-Alegria on Ax-1 in 2022, and the third NASA astronaut to return to space after leaving the agency, following John Glenn in 1998.ĭuring the next week at the space station, Whitson will assist Shoffner, AlQarni and Barnawi proceed through their planned science and outreach programs. She joined Axiom Space after retiring from NASA in 2018, becoming the company's director of human spaceflight. Whitson, 63, is now also the first woman to command a commercial spaceflight. ![]() ![]() She will add to that count on this mission, which is expected to last about 10 days. Peggy Whitson, as a former NASA astronaut, already holds the distinction as the most experienced American and woman to fly into space, having previously logged more than 665 days on three long-duration stays aboard the space station. The first Saudi (and Arab) astronaut to fly, Sultan bin Salman Al Saud, did so as a payload specialist aboard the space shuttle Discovery in 1985.Īxiom Space's Ax-2 crew are seen in SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft "Freedom," from left: mission specialist Rayyanah Barnawi, pilot John Shoffner, commander Peggy Whitson and mission specialist Ali AlQarni. ![]() It is a true honor to be a part of a mission that is expanding access to low-Earth orbit for people like me and you and to be able to inspire people around the world to reach for the stars and pursue their dreams."īarnawi is also now the first Saudi woman to fly in space and first Arab woman to orbit Earth, and with AlQarni, the first Arabs and Saudis to launch together on the same mission. "As the 600th person to enter orbit around Earth, I am excited to represent the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Space Commission during this historic mission. "I feel incredibly humbled to follow in the footsteps of the many astronauts and pioneers before me," said Barnawi in a statement. She is also the first Arab woman to circle the planet, first Saudi woman to fly into space and 72nd woman worldwide to orbit Earth. With Barnawi, only 72 women help comprise the 600-person total.Īx-2 mission specialist Rayyanah Barnawi with the Saudi Space Commission has become the 600th person to orbit Earth. As such, Barnawi, as mission specialist 2, claimed the round number. AlQarni is number 599, flying as mission specialist 1. AlQarni and Shoffner are first-time fliers as well, but based on a precedent set in 2021 when the 600th person entered space - a figure that also included suborbital flights - the count is based on the astronauts' mission designations.Īs pilot, Shoffner became number 598. Less than nine minutes later, Barnawi and her crewmates began circling the planet. EDT (2137 GMT) on the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft "Freedom" atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The four Axiom 2 (Ax-2) crewmates launched at 5:37 p.m. Rayyanah Barnawi on Sunday (May 21) lifted off with fellow Saudi Space Commission (SSC) astronaut Ali AlQarni, privately funded astronaut John Shoffner of Tennessee and former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson on the second mission organized by Houston-based space services company Axiom Space. The 600th person to enter Earth orbit is now on her way to the International Space Station aboard the second commercial mission to fly there. ![]()
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