The panel session featured NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Saudi astronauts Rayannah Barnawi, Ali Al-Ghamdi, and Mariam Fardous sharing their space exploration experiences.
Prince Sultan University in Riyadh hosted a joint delegation from the Saudi Space Agency (SSA) and its US counterpart, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The event, attended by SSA CEO Dr Mohammed bin Saud Al-Tamimi, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, US Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney, and Saudi astronauts Rayyanah Barnawi, Ali Al-Ghamdi, and Mariam Fardous, aimed to explore avenues for enhancing cooperation in science, research, development, and innovation.
At the event, discussions centred on bolstering collaboration to advance national capabilities and competencies within the Saudi space sector. The SSA emphasised its commitment to adopting scientific methods and modern technologies to propel the nation’s space endeavours forward, according to a report by Saudi Press Agency.
As part of the dialogue, a session titled “Beyond Earth: Journeys to the Stars” was hosted by the Saudi agency. The panel featured distinguished speakers including NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Saudi astronauts Rayyanah Barnawi, Mariam Fardous, and Ali Al-Ghamdi. Topics discussed ranged from insights into the Saudi space programme to NASA’s future vision, exploring the challenges and opportunities in space exploration, and the pivotal role of pioneers in inspiring future generations to pursue careers in this dynamic field.
