| Saudi Space Agency | |
| Acronym: | SSA |
| Leader Name2: | Muhammad al-Tamimi |
| Website: | Official English Website |
| Native Name: | وكالة الفضاء السعودية |
| Former Name: | Saudi Space Commission |
The Saudi Space Agency (SSA; Arabic: وكالة الفضاء السعودية), previously known as the Saudi Space Commission (SSC), is a Saudi independent government entity established by a royal order on December27, 2018 and elevated to an agency on June 14, 2023.[1] The agency is chaired by Abdullah Alswaha, the Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology.[2]
On July 17, 2024 it was reported that the Sudia space agency signed a space agreement with NASA to collaborate on civilian space research and explorations. This is another step forward on the country's ambition to create a robust space sector.[3]
Prior to the establishment of the Saudi Space Agency, the only Saudi astronaut was prince Sultan bin Salman Al Saud, who flew aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1985 as a Payload Specialist on STS 51-G.
In 2022, the SSA partnered with American private spaceflight company Axiom Space to send two Saudi astronauts, including the first Saudi woman in space, to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon as part of Axiom Mission 2.[4] The astronauts selected were Ali AlQarni and Rayyanah Barnawi, with Ali AlGhamdi and Mariam Fardous as backups.[5]
| Name | Selection | Time in space | Missions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 9 days, 5 hours and 27 minutes | Axiom Mission 2 | ||
| 2023 | 9 days, 5 hours and 27 minutes | Axiom Mission 2 | ||
| Ali AlGhamdi | 2023 | N/A | Axiom Mission 2 (backup) | |
| Mariam Fardous | 2023 | N/A | Axiom Mission 2 (backup) |