Axiom space mission: 1st Saudi woman astronaut boards ISS

A crew of four astronauts, including two Saudis, joined seven others aboard the International Space Station (ISS) on Monday, after their SpaceX capsule docked with the orbiting ISS on the second all-private Axiom mission. The Dragon capsule departed from the Kennedy Space Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Sunday atop a Falcon rocket, transporting the crew members for a weeklong stay at the ISS.

The AX-2 mission is commanded by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson and carries paying customers. Also on board is pilot John Shoffner, and mission specialists Ali Alqarni and Rayyanah Barnawi, representing Saudi Arabia. Barnawi, a scientist specializing in cancer stem-cell research, is Saudi Arabia's first woman astronaut to head to the ISS where she will focus on advancing breast cancer research.

"We are here gathering with different cultures and with this international collaboration. This shows how space brings everyone together," Barnawi said during a welcoming ceremony aboard.

This is Axiom's second private mission in collaboration with NASA and SpaceX. In April last year, SpaceX blasted off the first all-private astronaut team ever launched to the ISS, a flight hailed by industry executives and NASA as a milestone in the commercialization of low-Earth orbit.

#GlobalNews #Axiom #Space

[abc_cba]

A massive achievement for Sauds and their approach for promoting equality amongst gender.

[djwonder]

HONEST HEADLINE: The First Saudi Woman to Pretend to Go to Space

[touqirbutter]

Go Saudi women go. Great news Saudi women starting from driving and now in space.

[korky]

Most of you can’t define a woman or point out Saudi on a map.

[lastChang]

When China's space station is mentioned, people think of
- a 22-ton uncontrolled rocket about to *fall onto their head.*

[TheBHAitken]

So what are you people getting at? That space travel is now safe enough for a Saudi woman go out there without causing an international incident?

[guymontag]

Women seem to have made some legitimate strides in Saudi society, in recent years. Maybe there's hope for them yet.

[edgehaineproductions]

Hilarious. Not allowed to drive a car or walk about on her own but can go to space in a rocket

[Element]

Now she will realized earth is not flat or egg shaped according to quran 😂

[winstonsmith]

They won’t give her a space helmet, she has to wear a hijab.

[miraclemorgan]

Go Peggy, Go Peggy, Go Sister Peggy! We Love You/Ya'll Much! Give Credit where it's due! One Love! Salaam Aleykum! Humdulelah!
🌌🫀🌚🧠🙌🥂

[-Ordinary-Average-Guy]

Imagine that. A Saudi woman allowed to go into space. Of course the ship is driven by a man because Saudi women are not allowed to drive. 😂

[hamzazad]

I did not excpect to find Islamophobia and racism in the comment section of a video like this one!

[jonharson]

Praying toward Mecca is gonna turn into some vomit inducing space ballet

[beausgaming]

Funny alway thouht u had to be fit to go through the extremes of space guess not eh