The Saudi astronauts, within the AX-2 crew, have concluded their scientific mission and returned to Earth by the SpaceX Dragon on May 31.
Saudi astronauts Ali Al-Qarni and Rayyanah Barnawi arrived in Riyadh, about two weeks after completing their historic scientific mission to the International Space Station (ISS), according to Saudi Gazette.
Alqarni and Barnawi returned to Earth on May 31 after an eight-day stay at the space station where they performed 14 research projects on microgravity, three of which were kite experiments with 12,000 school students from 47 locations across the Kingdom via satellite.
The pair returned to the Kingdom with fellow Saudi astronauts Mariam Fardous and Ali al-Ghamdi from Florida, who had been there as backup mission specialists for the Ax-2 mission.
The astronauts were received by the Chairman of the Saudi Space Agency (SSA) Abdullah al-Swaha; Chief of General Staff, Fayyad al-Ruwaili; President of the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology Dr Munir al-Desouki; SSA Vice Chairman Dr Mohammed al-Tamimi; and CEO of King Faisal Specialist Hospital Majid al-Fayyadh.
Barnawi and Al Qarni arrived at the space station on May 22 as part of the private AX-2 mission launched by Axiom Space.
Saudi astronauts conducted 14 pioneering scientific experiments as part of their scientific mission, which included six experiments in the brain and nervous system, four experiments in immune cells, and an experiment in water seeding technology.
The Saudi Space Agency stated that the results of the experiments conducted by Barnawi and Al-Qarni will be reflected in the service of humanity, as it will also enhance Saudi Arabia’s position in the fields of space and its science.
