The Saudi Space Agency (SSA) celebrated today the anniversary of the Saudi space mission, carried out by its astronauts Rayyana Barnawi and Ali Al-Qarni, in a ceremony hosted by the Communications and Space and Technology Commission in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The mission, during which 14 pioneering scientific experiments were conducted, fell under the agency’s “Saudi Toward Space” programme. It aligned with the Kingdom’s focus on research, development, and innovation, a vision driven by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Supreme Space Council.

The mission embodied the Kingdom’s commitment to space exploration. By participating in the International Space Station (ISS), the world’s leading space research platform, “Saudi Arabia contributed to scientific advancements that empower humanity, protect the planet, and shape new horizons”, the SSA said.

CEO of SSA Dr. Mohammed bin Saud Altamimi hailed the significant achievements of the SSA-HSF1 mission, and stressed that its successes represented a major milestone on the Kingdom’s path toward becoming a leader in the space sector.