Saudi Space Agency

{{Infobox space agency

|name = Saudi Space Agency

|agency_type = Space agency

|logo = Saudi Space Agency Logo.svg{{!}}class=skin-invert

|acronym = SSA

|formed = {{Start date and age|2018|12|27}}

|jurisdiction = Government of Saudi Arabia

|headquarters = Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

|leader_title = Chairperson

|leader_name = Abdullah Alswaha

|leader_title2 = Chief Executive Officer

|leader_name2 = Muhammad al-Tamimi

|website = {{URL|https://ssa.gov.sa/en}}

|language =

|native_name = وكالة الفضاء السعودية

|former_name = Saudi Space Commission

}}

The Saudi Space Agency (SSA; {{langx|ar|وكالة الفضاء السعودية|Wakālat al-Faḍāʼ al-Saʻūdīyah}}), previously known as the Saudi Space Commission (SSC), is an independent entity of the Government of Saudi Arabia established by a royal order issued on December 27, 2018, and elevated to agency status on June 14, 2023.{{Cite web |last=Obeid |first=Ghinwa |date=14 June 2023 |title=Saudi Space Commission elevated to Saudi Space Agency, expanding Kingdom’s ambitions |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/saudi-arabia/2023/06/14/Saudi-Space-Commission-elevated-to-Saudi-Space-Agency-expanding-Kingdom-s-ambitions |access-date=20 January 2024 |website=Al Arabiya English}} Chaired by Abdullah Alswaha, the Minister of Communications and Information Technology,{{Cite web |title=Board Members |url=https://ssa.gov.sa/en/boardMembers?path=/board-members/ |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=ssa.gov.sa |language=en}} the agency's role is to advance the nation’s space initiatives.

On July 17, 2024, the SSA announced a space cooperation agreement with NASA to collaborate on civilian space research and exploration. This partnership represents a major step forward in the country's ambition to create a robust space sector.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-17 |title=Nasa, Saudi Arabia sign space agreement |url=https://gulfnews.com/business/markets/nasa-saudi-arabia-sign-space-agreement-1.1721211190090 |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=gulfnews.com |language=en}}

Spaceflights

Before the establishment of the Saudi Space Agency, the only Saudi astronaut was Sultan bin Salman Al Saud, who flew aboard {{OV|103}} in 1985 as a payload specialist on mission STS-51-G which delivered Arabsat-1B to orbit. He became the first Arab, the first Muslim, and the first member of a royal family to travel to space.{{cite web |title=A prince in space |url=https://archive.aramcoworld.com/issue/198601/a.prince.in.space.htm |access-date=January 23, 2022 |pages=20–29 |edition=January/February 1986}} Abdulmohsen Al-Bassam was the designated backup astronaut.

In 2022, the SSA purchased two seats on Axiom Mission 2, a private spaceflight to the International Space Station operated by the American company Axiom Space.{{Cite web |last=Bell |first=Jennifer |date=23 March 2023 |title=Saudi astronauts to research cancer, cloud seeding, microgravity in space |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/saudi-arabia/2023/03/23/Saudi-astronauts-to-research-cancer-cloud-seeding-microgravity-in-space |access-date=20 January 2024 |website=Al Arabiya English}} The mission, launched aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, included two Saudi astronauts, Ali AlQarni and Rayyanah Barnawi, the latter becoming the first Saudi woman in space. Ali AlGhamdi and Mariam Fardous were designated as backup astronauts.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-22 |title=Axiom Space Partners with Saudi Space Commission to Send First Female Saudi Astronaut to Space |url=https://www.axiomspace.com/news/ssc-partnership |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=Axiom Space |language=en-US}}