First Saudi Space Mission in Polar Orbit Lifts Off With SpaceX
The Kingdom's first polar orbit research mission with SpaceX will examine eye microbes in microgravity.
Saudi Arabia has launched its first research mission into polar orbit with the successful deployment of the Falak Mission, in collaboration with SpaceX, placing the kingdom among the few nations conducting advanced research in polar orbit.
The mission aims to investigate how eye microbes behave in microgravity, particularly their resilience and ability to form biofilms, which are associated with eye infections in astronauts. The findings could inform new medical protocols to protect astronaut health on long-term space missions, while also contributing to advancements in eye care on Earth.
The project adds to Saudi Arabia's recent momentum in space research, which includes astronaut training initiatives, satellite technology development, and biomedical studies aimed at supporting both national goals and global scientific collaboration.
The launch into polar orbit, which passes over both poles, enables the mission to collect comprehensive data on microbial behaviour under different environmental conditions, expanding the scope of biological research in orbit.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
See - Sada Elbalad
5 days ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
Tump's Threat to Cancel SpaceX Contracts Could Force U.S. Back Into Russian Dependence, Experts Warn
Ahmed Emam US President Donald Trump's threat to revoke the government contracts with Elon Musk's SpaceX has sparked serious concern among space policy experts, who warn that such a move could undermine American space dominance and potentially force NASA to resume its reliance on Russia for access to the International Space Station. In a report published by "News week" , multiple analysts cautioned that cutting ties with SpaceX—the company behind many of NASA's most critical crewed missions—would leave the U.S. space program with limited alternatives. 'SpaceX is essential to both U.S. national security and NASA's operations. It's a core player in everything the United States is doing in space,' said Clayton Sopp, Deputy Director of the Space Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, an institution labeled 'undesirable' by Russian authorities. Sopp warned that canceling SpaceX contracts would create 'a massive gap' in American space capabilities, particularly in launching astronauts and maintaining operations aboard the ISS. 'There is no current service that can immediately fill that void,' he added. The *Newsweek* report follows Trump's escalating feud with Musk, whose companies have received an estimated \$38 billion in government contracts, loans, subsidies, and tax breaks over the past decade—support that has significantly contributed to Musk becoming the world's richest man, according to *The Washington Post*. Trump, reacting to Musk's recent public criticisms and calls for his disqualification from office, has threatened to conduct a sweeping review of government contracts with Musk's companies. That review, he hinted, could lead to their cancellation. In response, Musk announced that SpaceX would 'immediately' begin pulling its Dragon spacecraft from service—an announcement that raised eyebrows and questions about the potential impact on NASA's crewed space missions. Scott Hubbard, former director of NASA's Ames Research Center and founding director of its Astrobiology Institute, expressed skepticism that Trump's threats would materialize but warned of the consequences if they did. 'There is currently no alternative to the Falcon 9–Dragon system,' Hubbard told Newsweek. 'Without it, astronauts could be left stranded on the ISS—unless we're prepared to go back to the Russians, asking for mercy and seats on Soyuz.' That sentiment was echoed by Benjamin L. Schmitt, a physicist and space policy expert at the University of Pennsylvania. He called SpaceX's 2020 crewed flights 'a breakthrough in ending U.S. dependence on Russian launch systems,' noting that for years NASA had paid Russia for Soyuz seats following the retirement of the Space Shuttle. 'Canceling these contracts now would be a major setback—not just technologically, but strategically,' Schmitt said. 'It would hand leverage back to the Kremlin and strike at the heart of U.S. space independence.' SpaceX currently holds more than \$22 billion in active U.S. government contracts, including a \$2.89 billion deal with NASA to develop the Human Landing System for the Artemis Moon mission and a \$1.15 billion contract for a second lunar lander. Other major deals include a \$1.8 billion agreement with the National Reconnaissance Office for a classified satellite network and \$102 million from the U.S. Air Force for the Rocket Cargo program. As tensions between Trump and Musk intensify, the political drama threatens to spill into national security and aerospace policy—areas where SpaceX has become deeply embedded. 'SpaceX has moved from being a disruptor to a pillar of U.S. space infrastructure,' said Sopp. 'Removing that pillar could cause the entire structure to wobble.' read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan
See - Sada Elbalad
28-05-2025
- See - Sada Elbalad
SpaceX Loses Control with Starship During 9th Test Flight
Rana Atef Early Wednesday, SpaceX launched its Starship for the ninth time ever on a test flight that featured the first-ever significant reuse of Starship hardware. Starship's two stages separated as planned on Flight 9, and the upper stage even reached space. However, both stages failed before they could accomplish their full flight goals. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk wrote on social media after the flight, "Starship made it to the scheduled ship engine cutoff, so big improvement over last flight!" "Leaks caused loss of main tank pressure during the coast and re-entry phase. Lot of good data to review." Musk said the next three Starship test launches could lift off every three to four weeks in the days ahead. SpaceX is developing Starship, which is expected to be the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built, to help humanity settle the moon and Mars.. The vehicle's two stages are a giant booster called Super Heavy and a 171-foot-tall (52 meters) upper-stage spacecraft known as Starship. Both are designed to be fully reusable, and both are powered by SpaceX's new Raptor engine — 33 of them for Super Heavy and six for Ship. The launch was a new milestone for SpaceX marking the first-ever reuse of a Super Heavy boostergure it out." read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies
See - Sada Elbalad
18-04-2025
- See - Sada Elbalad
Uzbekistan in Talks with SpaceX to Launch Satellite
Israa Farhan Uzbekistan has entered discussions with SpaceX to potentially launch its first domestically assembled scientific and technological satellite, marking a significant step forward in the country's growing ambitions in the space sector. The talks were held during a recent visit by the Uzbek Space Research and Technology Agency, known as Uzcosmos, to the United States. Delegates met with representatives from SpaceX at the company's headquarters in Los Angeles to explore opportunities for collaboration on satellite launches. Uzcosmos stated that the meeting focused on using a SpaceX rocket to launch a satellite built by a team of young Uzbek engineers. The project is part of a broader national plan to enhance Uzbekistan's presence in space research and innovation. Discussions also addressed Uzbekistan's long-term space strategy, which outlines goals for space research and technology development through 2035. SpaceX expressed interest in supporting Uzbekistan's efforts by offering proposals and technical assistance to help refine the country's space roadmap. Uzbekistan's space ambitions began gaining momentum in 2019, when President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree establishing Uzcosmos. The agency is tasked with developing and implementing a unified state policy for the use and expansion of space technologies. The potential satellite launch with SpaceX represents a strategic milestone for Uzbekistan, signaling its entry into the competitive global space arena and its commitment to fostering scientific advancement and technological independence. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Videos & Features Bouchra Dahlab Crowned Miss Arab World 2025 .. Reem Ganzoury Wins Miss Arab Africa Title (VIDEO) Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Arts & Culture Arwa Gouda Gets Married (Photos)
