Mashable: The kingdom has launched an astronaut program for 2023

Saudi Arabia has announced to send its first female pilot and astronaut to space in 2023.

Saudi’s journey to space is set for 2023.

On Thursday, September 22, 2022, Saudi Arabia launched its astronaut program with the aim of sending the kingdom’s first female astronaut into space, reported the state news agency SPA.

المملكة تطلق برنامج رواد الفضاء، والرحلة الأولى في 2023 تُقل أول رائدة فضاء سعودية.https://t.co/Seei0qls8M#الهيئة_السعودية_للفضاء pic.twitter.com/3oxRQ8QMKj

— الهيئة السعودية للفضاء (@saudispace) September 22, 2022
The program will see a women astronaut being launched alongside male astronauts to space and it is hailed as Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s push for the Kingdom's ambitious Vision 2030.

The Saudi Space Commission in a statement said, “The program will enable Saudi astronauts to conduct scientific experiments and research for the betterment of humanity in priority areas such as health, sustainability, and space technology.”

“The Saudi Astronaut Program, which is an integral part of the Kingdom’s ambitious Vision 200, will send Saudi astronauts into space to help better serve humanity,” the statement continued. “One of the astronauts will be a woman, whose mission to space will represent a historical first for the Kingdom.”

The Kingdom is also planning to launch its National Space Strategy in the coming months. The strategy will reveal space programs and initiatives that aim to serve humanity from space.

Earlier it was reported that Saudi Arabia plans to launch two astronauts to the International Space Station aboard a space capsule from Elon Musk’s SpaceX Crew dragon. This will make the Kingdom the latest gulf nation to strengthen ties with private US space companies.

The two Saudi astronauts are said to ride the SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule for a roughly week-long stay at the space station early next year.