Saudi Arabia is set to make history by sending its first-ever woman astronaut into space. Rayyana Barnawi will join fellow Saudi male astronaut Ali Al-Qarni on a 10-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS), the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said.
This mission marks a milestone for the Middle Eastern nation, as the country has been undergoing a series of reforms in recent years to change its conservative image. This includes allowing women to drive and travel abroad without a male guardian.
Moreover, the country has set up its space program in 2018 and launched a program to send astronauts into space in 2022 as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 agenda for economic diversification.
Saudi Arabia has been making efforts in recent years to expand opportunities for women in the workforce and promote gender equality. In 2019, the country sent its first female commercial pilot on a flight for the national airline, and in 2021, it announced plans to allow women to join the military as soldiers for the first time.
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