Saudi Arabia to send first female astronaut to space in 2023
Saudi Arabia says it will send its first female astronaut into space in 2023 as part of its ambitious space programme, the dpa news agency reported.
The monarchy’s state news agency SPA reports that the first flight scheduled for 2023 will carry two Saudi astronauts, including a woman, without giving further details.
“This will mark an important historic event by sending the first Saudi woman to space,” the SPA said.
According to the agency, the monarchy will unveil a detailed national space strategy in the next months.
In recent years, oil-wealthy Saudi Arabia sought to shed its ultraconservative image as it opened g up to the world.
In 2018, the kingdom allowed women to hit the road ending a decades-old ban on female driving.
It would be recalled that not long ago, the Saudi Space Commission launched an astronaut programme designed to groom Saudis to go on long and short-term space flights.
