New Date Set for KSA's First Female Astronaut Launch to Space

After it got postponed, the Axiom Mission 2 space mission featuring two Saudi astronauts, including the first Arab woman in space, is now expected to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) on May 22nd (KSA time).

In a tweet, Nasa Space Operations said the AX-2 will be off to space on May 21st, no earlier than 5.37pm (EDT time). 

Launch Update: @NASA, @Axiom_Space, & @SpaceX are targeting no earlier than 5:37 p.m. EDT Sunday, May 21, for launch of Axiom Mission 2 to the @Space_Station. (1/2)

— NASA Space Operations (@NASASpaceOps) May 5, 2023

Considering the time zone difference, they will blast off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 12:37 am KSA time aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

The mission was originally set to blast off on May 9th at 5:43 am KSA time.

The AAx-2 to the ISS will be the second by Axiom Space, a private US space company.

Two other astronauts will join Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali Al-Qarni in their voyage; Peggy Whitson, and John Shoffner.

The crew will join UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, who is on a six-month mission since March 3rd, on board the ISS.

Image source: @axiom.space Instagram account.