Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Wednesday, Jun 04, 2025

SSC astronauts to carry out 11 pioneering scientific research experiments in microgravity

SSC astronauts to carry out 11 pioneering scientific research experiments in microgravity

The Saudi Space Commission (SSC) has revealed the tasks and scientific research that will be conducted during the journey of the Saudis, as part of the crew of the space mission at the International Space Station (ISS), in the second quarter of 2023, within the Kingdom’s program for astronauts.
The Commission announced that the two astronauts, Rayana Bernawi and Ali Al-Qarni, along with the mission crew, will carry out 11 pioneering scientific research experiments in microgravity during the flight, the results of which will enhance the Kingdom’s position globally in space exploration and service to humanity, and confirm the role of Saudi research centers in making a scientific impact in this field, in addition to implementing three educational awareness experiments.

The SSC indicated that the Saudi experiments in space aim to carry out human research and cell sciences. The artificial rain experiments in microgravity, explaining that the experiment of the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals(KFUPM) to generate artificial rain, which simulates the cloud seeding process that is used in the Kingdom and many countries to increase precipitation rates, will help scientists and researchers to devise new ways to provide appropriate conditions for humans —including artificial rain — to live in space colonies on the surface of the Moon and Mars.

The Commission added that during the trip, six experiments would be conducted by Sadeem Company for Research and Development to find out the extent of human adaptation to spaceflight, to understand the effects on human health of being in space, and to determine whether spaceflight is safe for the human brain.

Moreover, the SSC said that during these experiments the functions of the vital organs and systems of humans would be tested in microgravity, such as measuring blood flow to the brain, assessing intracranial pressure, the electrical activity of the brain, and monitoring changes in the optic nerve, which helps make space flights safer for humankind in the future, adding that the experiments will also include taking blood and biological samples to examine biomarkers associated with spaceflight, and to map changes in length, structure, and epigenetics of genes.

According to the SSC, the cell science experiments led by the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center and its scientific team, in cooperation with the SSC, include conducting experiments to investigate the inflammatory response of human immune cells in microgravity and studying changes in the lifespan of the messenger (mRNA) during the inflammatory process and by using an immune cell model to simulate the inflammatory response to drug therapy.

In this experiment, the mission crew will take mRNA samples for analysis on Earth. The results of this experiment are expected to contribute to a better understanding of human health while in space and to reveal biomarkers or potential treatments for inflammatory diseases in both space and Earth together.

The SSC also aims to involve students in scientific experiments aboard ISS, to enhance their awareness of space science and its contribution to improving the quality of life on Earth by comparing their experiences on Earth with those conducted by the Saudi crew aboard the ISS. The students will be able to communicate with the Saudi astronauts directly by conducting their experiments simultaneously, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, King Abdulaziz and his Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity “Mawhiba”, Riyadh Schools, and Misk Schools.

The SSC efforts aim to prepare future astronauts and engineers through quality education and training programs, participation in scientific experiments, international research, and future missions related to space and contribute to raising the Kingdom’s status and achieving the Kingdom’s goals of Vision 2030.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Global News Roundup: From Ukraine's strategic military strikes and Russia's demands and Tensions Escalate in Ukraine, to serious legal issues faced by Britons in Bali and Trump's media criticism, the latest developments highlight a turbulent landscape
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
Iran Warns Europe Against Politicizing UN Nuclear Report
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
UAE Offers Free ChatGPT Plus Subscriptions to Citizens
Lebanon Initiates Plan to Disarm Palestinian Factions
Iran and U.S. Make Limited Progress in Nuclear Talks
The Daily Debate: The Fall of the Dollar — Strategic Reset or Economic Self-Destruction?
Trump Administration's Tariff Policies and Dollar Strategy Spark Global Economic Debate
OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s Startup for $6.5 Billion to Build a Revolutionary “Third Core Device”
Turkey Weighs Citizens in Public as Erdoğan Launches National Slimming Campaign
Saudi-Spanish Business Forum Commences in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia and Spain Sign MoU to Boost SME Sectors
UK Suspends Trade Talks with Israel Amid Gaza Offensive
Iran and U.S. Set for Fifth Round of Nuclear Talks Amid Rising Tensions
Russia Expands Military Presence Near Finland Amid Rising Tensions
Indian Scholar Arrested in Crackdown Over Pakistan Conflict Commentary
Israel Eases Gaza Blockade Amid Internal Dispute Over Military Strategy
President Biden’s announcement of advanced prostate cancer sparked public sympathy—but behind closed doors, Democrats are in panic
A Chinese company made solar tiles that look way nicer than regular panels!
Indian jet shootdown: the all-robot legion behind China’s PL-15E missiles
The Chinese Dragon: The True Winner in the India-Pakistan Clash
Australia's Venomous Creatures Contribute to Life-Saving Antivenom Programme
The Spanish Were Right: Long Working Hours Harm Brain Function
Did Former FBI Director Call for Violence Against Trump? Instagram Post Sparks Uproar
US and UAE Partner to Develop Massive AI Data Center Complex
Apple's $95 Million Siri Settlement: Eligible Users Have Until July 2 to File Claims
US and UAE Reach Preliminary Agreement on Nvidia AI Chip Imports
President Trump and Elon Musk Welcomed by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim with Cybertruck Convoy
Strong Warning Issued: Do Not Use General Chatbots for Medical, Legal, or Educational Guidance
Saudi Arabia Emerges as Global Tech Magnet with U.S. Backing and Trump’s Visit
This was President's departure from Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince personally escorted him back to the airport.
NVIDIA and Saudi Arabia Launch Strategic Partnership to Establish AI Centers
Trump Meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara in Historic Encounter
Trump takes a blow torch to the neocons and interventionists while speaking to the Saudis
US and Saudi Arabia Sign Landmark Agreements Across Multiple Sectors
×