Crown Prince Meets Saudi Astronauts Before their Mission's Launch to Space

The Crown Prince also underlined the importance of the space sector as a major pillar in enhancing the Kingdom’s global competitiveness. SPA
The Crown Prince also underlined the importance of the space sector as a major pillar in enhancing the Kingdom’s global competitiveness. SPA
TT
20

Crown Prince Meets Saudi Astronauts Before their Mission's Launch to Space

The Crown Prince also underlined the importance of the space sector as a major pillar in enhancing the Kingdom’s global competitiveness. SPA
The Crown Prince also underlined the importance of the space sector as a major pillar in enhancing the Kingdom’s global competitiveness. SPA

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Prime Minister and President of the Higher Council of Space, met in Jeddah on Sunday with the Saudi astronauts Rayana Bernawi, Ali Al-Qarni, Mariam Fardous and Ali Al-Ghamdi before the launch of the Kingdom’s scientific mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

The Crown Prince welcomed the crew of the scientific mission on board of which are Rayana Bernawi, the first Saudi, Muslim and Arab woman to fly to space, and the first Saudi astronaut, Ali Al-Qarni, to arrive to the ISS, and congratulated them for passing the qualifying program.

The Crown Prince also underlined the importance of the space sector as a major pillar in enhancing the Kingdom’s global competitiveness, emphasizing at the same time the significance of space exploration in serving science and humanity.

Addressing the astronauts, he noted that they represent the abilities of the Saudi people and their ambitions to play a vital role in innovations and space research to find sustainable solutions for the welfare of humanity.

He also noted that the Saudi people are pinning great hopes on Bernawi and Al-Qarni as ambassadors and representatives of the Kingdom at the ISS in a mission that has noble objectives to empower mankind, protect the planet and open new horizons for research in health and sustainable environment.

The astronauts expressed pride for their meeting with the Crown Prince, extending their gratitude for his constant support.

The historic mission underlines the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting global space exploration efforts, encourage scientific research in the field and enhance the Saudis' knowledge and roles in space programs and technologies as per the Saudi Vision 2030.



UAE Coast Guard Evacuates 24 People from Oil Tanker Crash in the Gulf of Oman

FILE PHOTO: Oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz, December 21, 2018. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz, December 21, 2018. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo
TT
20

UAE Coast Guard Evacuates 24 People from Oil Tanker Crash in the Gulf of Oman

FILE PHOTO: Oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz, December 21, 2018. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz, December 21, 2018. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo

The Emirati national guard said it evacuated 24 people from an oil tanker Tuesday after a collision between two ships just east of the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf of Oman, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

The United Arab Emirates national guard said it deployed its coast guard’s search and rescue boats to the site, 24 nautical miles off the country's coast, and that the crew was evacuated to the port of Khor Fakkan.

The strait is the strategic maritime entryway to the Arabian Gulf and sees about a fifth of the world’s oil pass through it, according to the US Energy Information Administration. In 2024, an average of 20 million barrels of oil traveled through it daily.