Rayana Barnawi and Ali Al Qarni relax arriving at International Space Station on May 22, 2023.

Gulf Today Report

The two Saudi astronauts Rayana Barnawi and Ali Al Qarni are all set to return to earth after their 10-day long mission at International Space Station.

A day ahead of their planned departure while addressing and thanking her colleagues at ISS, Rayana Barnawi got emotional.

“Every story comes to an end and this is only the beginning of a new era for our country (Saudi Arabia) and our region.so just like to thanks everyone who had helped us,” Rayana Barnawi said.

A teary eyed Rayana Barnawi especially thanked her colleague Sultan Al Neyadi during the touching farewell to her crew at the conclusion of her mission. 

The two Saudi astronauts and team crew arrived at the ISS on May 22, 2023, for a 10-day mission.

The docking of the "Dragon 2" spacecraft with the ISS was a historic moment for Rayana Barnawi who becomes the first ever Arab woman to fly into space to the ISS.

It was a historic moment for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is now the first Arabic country to send a woman on a space scientific mission just as it is also one of the few countries with two astronauts on board the ISS simultaneously.

Upon their arrival, the mission crew of AX-2 changed their space suits and joined the ISS team preparing to carry out their mission in space.

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