Rayyanah Barnawi | |
---|---|
ريانة برناوي | |
Born | September 1988 (age 35)
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia |
Status | Active |
Space career | |
Time in space | 9 days, 5 hours and 27 minutes |
Selection | 2023 |
Missions | Axiom Mission 2 |
Rayyanah Barnawi ( Arabic: ريانة برناوي; born September 1988) [1] [2] is a biomedical researcher [3] and astronaut. She is the first Saudi female astronaut, selected for Axiom Mission 2 as a mission specialist [4] by the Saudi Space Commission; her selection was officially announced on February 12, 2023. [5]
She holds a Bachelor's degree in biomedical sciences from University of Otago. She also holds a Master's degree in Biomedical Sciences from Alfaisal University, where she studied the adhesion of breast cancer stem cells.
When she was selected she was working as a research laboratory technician at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh. As part of the mission, she is conducting mission experiments in her field. [6]
On May 22, 2023, Barnawi arrived at the International Space Station on-board SpaceX ship Crew Dragon Freedom. [7]
She is the first Arab woman in space [8] and is considered as the 600th person to fly in Earth orbit. [9]
In 2024 she received the Visionary Award of the Middle East Institute [10].