Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Sunday, Aug 24, 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
More Than Half a Million Evacuated as Typhoon Kajiki Heads for Vietnam
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Dogfights in the Skies: Airbus on Track to Overtake Boeing and Claim Aviation Supremacy
Tim Cook Promises an AI Revolution at Apple: "One of the Most Significant Technologies of Our Generation"
Are AI Data Centres the Infrastructure of the Future or the Next Crisis?
Miles Worth Billions: How Airlines Generate Huge Profits
Zelenskyy Returns to White House Flanked by European Allies as Trump Pressures Land-Swap Deal with Putin
Beijing is moving into gold and other assets, diversifying away from the dollar
Cristiano Ronaldo Makes Surprise Stop at New Hong Kong Museum
Zelenskyy to Visit Washington after Trump–Putin Summit Yields No Agreement
High-Stakes Trump-Putin Summit on Ukraine Underway in Alaska
Iranian Protection Offers Chinese Vehicle Shipments a Cost Advantage over Japanese and Korean Makers
Saudi Arabia accelerates renewables to curb domestic oil use
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez announce engagement
Asia-Pacific dominates world’s busiest flight routes, with South Korea’s Jeju–Seoul corridor leading global rankings
Private Welsh island with 19th-century fort listed for sale at over £3 million
Sam Altman challenges Elon Musk with plans for Neuralink rival
Australia to Recognize the State of Palestine at UN Assembly
The Collapse of the Programmer Dream: AI Experts Now the Real High-Earners
Armenia and Azerbaijan to Sign US-Brokered Framework Agreement for Nakhchivan Corridor
British Labour Government Utilizes Counter-Terrorism Tools for Social Media Monitoring Against Legitimate Critics
WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Scam Accounts Amid Rising Global Fraud
Nine people have been hospitalized and dozens of salmonella cases have been reported after an outbreak of infections linked to certain brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada
Texas Residents Face Water Restrictions While AI Data Centers Consume Millions of Gallons
Tariffs, AI, and the Shifting U.S. Macro Landscape: Navigating a New Economic Regime
India Rejects U.S. Tariff Threat, Defends Russian Oil Purchases
United States Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
Thousands of Private ChatGPT Conversations Accidentally Indexed by Google
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
OpenAI’s Bold Bet: Teaching AI to Think, Not Just Chat
BP’s Largest Oil and Gas Find in 25 Years Uncovered Offshore Brazil
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Germany’s Economic Breakdown and the Return of Militarization: From Industrial Collapse to a New Offensive Strategy
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
×