US Congratulates Saudi Arabia After Saudi Astronauts Reached Space

The US has congratulated Saudi Arabia on its national astronaut program after Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali Al-Qarni became the first citizens of the Kingdom to reach the International Space Station (ISS).

"We congratulate Axiom Mission 2, the first private mission of Saudi Arabia's national astronaut program, for successfully docking at the International @Space_Station today," Acting White House National Security Council Spokesman Adam Hodge tweeted.

Hodge also singled out Barnawi to congratulate her on becoming the first Saudi woman to accomplish this feat. She is also the first-ever Arab woman in space. "Mabrouk!" he added.

We congratulate Axiom Mission 2, the first private mission of Saudi Arabia’s national astronaut program, for successfully docking at the International @Space_Station today. We also celebrate Rayyanah Barnawi’s historic achievement as the first Saudi woman in space. Mabrouk! https://t.co/TuspiRFIm6

— Adam Hodge (@NSC_Spox) May 23, 2023

Barnawi and Al-Qarni reached the ISS on Monday, May 22nd. Both astronauts travelled with astronaut Peggy Whitson and pilot John Shoffner. 

The Dragon spacecraft launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Sunday, starting the Axiom 2 private mission. This mission is the second completely private mission to visit ISS, following the first one in April 2022.