Riyadh: After a successful scientific mission at the International Space Station, Saudi astronauts Ali Alqarni, Rayyanah Barnawi, Mariam Fardous, and Ali Al-Ghamdi returned to the Kingdom on Saturday morning.
At the airport in Riyadh, the Saudi astronauts received a warm welcome. The space travelers Rayana Barnawi, Ali Al Qarni, Maryam Firdaus, and Ali Al Ghamdi were warmly welcomed.
Engineer Abdullah Al Sawah, Minister of IT Communications and Chairman of the Space Agency, Joint Chiefs of Staff Jan. Fayad Al Ruwaili, King Abdulaziz Science and Technology City President Dr. Dr. Munir Al Dasooqi, Space Agency Vice Chairman. Dr. Mohammad Al Tamimi, CEO of King Faisal Research Center. The astronauts were welcomed by dignitaries including Majid Al Fayyad.
Alqarni and Barnawi, the first Arab woman to orbit Earth, returned to the planet on May 31 after an eight-day stay at the space station during which they carried out 14 microgravity research projects. After a 12-hour return flight and re-entry through the Earth’s atmosphere, the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying them and American astronauts Peggy Whitson and John Shoffner parachuted down onto the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Panama City, Florida.
