Rayyanah Barnawi has Altered Saudis’ View of Space

A bright name who stepped into space and altered Saudis’ perceptions of it is Rayyanah Barnawi. The world is constantly in awe of the Kingdom’s fearless and inspirational women’s accomplishments, both domestically and internationally. Despite many obstacles, she remained resolute and embraced space to pursue her goals with strength.

After completing a rigorous training programme and passing multiple qualifying exams, Barnawi became the first Saudi woman astronaut and changed how Saudis view space. She documented this momentous accomplishment in the Saudi archives as a source of motivation for young men and women in the Kingdom and globally, proving that nothing is impossible and that people can overcome obstacles to realise their goals.

Education and Career

She received a Master’s degree with honours in Biomedical Sciences from Alfaisal University and a Bachelor’s in Genetic Engineering, Reproductive Science, and Tissue Development from the University of Otago in New Zealand.

For nine years, she was a laboratory research specialist with a focus on cancer stem cells at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre. She was chosen to visit hospitals and pharmaceutical factories in Tianjin, China, in 2012 as a member of a Saudi delegation that aimed to strengthen medical cooperation between the two nations.

Rayyanah Barnawi ‘s Upbringing & Birth

In September 1988, Barnawi was born in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Her roots are in Sudan, and she is a member of a tribe that has ancestry from the African nation of Borno.

Following multiple relocations throughout the Arabian Peninsula, her family eventually made their home in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Hejaz region, and more especially the city of Mecca, is home to one of the most well-known families.

Additionally, there are members of the family in Medina, Taif, and Jeddah. According to Barnawi, she has enjoyed research and exploration since she was a young child. She thought of herself as a little adventurer and thanked her parents for encouraging and fostering her natural curiosity. According to one of her interviews, her mother asked her if she wanted to travel to space. “Yes,” she said, “I want to go, of course.”

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Her Initiative to Include Children in Experiments

Barnawi plans to use her journey to experiment with children on Earth for a significant portion of it. 14 of the experiments she and her colleague Ali Al-Qarni will carry out will be overseen by Saudi scientists on Earth, she said.

“We’ll try to introduce kids to science, maths, and technology to help them realise their potential and boost their self-esteem,” she declared. The mission has this as one of its objectives. She added, “Building interest in space and preparing people for space missions are two of the Saudi Space Commission’s objectives.”

In addition, Barnawi spoke to Saudi youth, expressing her desire to show them that Arab men and women can fulfil their space dreams and to introduce them to astronauts from the region. She posted, “My sense of pride in this mission… is the greatest feeling I have ever felt,” in a tweet on the (x) platform.

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Her Experience in Space

Utilising her scientific expertise and the many experiments she conducted while in space, Rayyanah Barnawi supported her work in the Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering Programme at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh.

On May 21, 2023, she took off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on a Dragon 2 spacecraft that was propelled into orbit by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

On May 22, 2023, 16 hours after the flight’s launch, she boarded the spacecraft and reached the International Space Station. She and her Saudi coworker, Ali Al-Qarni, said they were proud of this Saudi accomplishment that had an impact on the Kingdom’s space industry. She saw herself as the embodiment of all Saudi women’s and men’s aspirations.

When she and her coworker returned from the spaceflight, they had 92 samples of the outcomes of scientific experiments carried out on board the International Space Station.

The most noteworthy of Rayyanah Barnawi’s experiments during her spaceflight were probably the following: measuring the diameter of the optic nerve sheath to ascertain the diameter of astronauts’ optic nerves during brief space missions; using electroencephalography (EEG) to measure electrical activity to investigate the impact of the microgravity environment on electrical activity in the brain using a portable EEG device; and taking blood vital signs to comprehend the mechanism of functional brain tissue during brief space missions to ascertain whether such flights are safe for the human brain.

Ultimately, Rayyanah Barnawi’s accomplishments have elevated Saudi Arabia’s reputation, making her a source of pride for Saudi women and the nation. She is a true representation of the contribution Saudi women have made to the Kingdom’s development, both socially and geographically.

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