A video shared on social media captured the first moments when astronaut Ali Al-Qarni and his compatriot Rayana Barnawi set foot on Earth, as they struggled to maintain balance and walk for over a minute after days of microgravity in space. After arriving at Houston Airport in the United States, rehabilitation is set to begin following their return from a microgravity environment.
The Saudi Space Authority announced on Wednesday the successful mission of Saudi astronauts Rayana Barnawi and Ali Al-Qarni, as their spacecraft, part of the 'AX-2' mission, landed safely after an outstanding scientific journey at the International Space Station (ISS). This mission achieved the Kingdom's goals of contributing to scientific research that serves humanity and taking advantage of promising opportunities in the global space sector and its industries, while also building national capabilities in human spaceflight. This pioneering mission marks a significant milestone for Saudi Arabia, symbolizing national and scientific achievements in the space sector.
Upon their arrival, social media was flooded with comments such as, "Welcome back to Planet Earth.. the mission is accomplished."
