Rabat – Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, the first Arab to perform a spacewalk, extolled on Wednesday Morocco’s beauty by sharing a photo of the view of the Moroccan capital seen from space.
The astronaut tweeted: “You cannot pass through Morocco without being in awe of its beauty. Home to the first and oldest university, al-Qarawiyyin as well as stunning landscapes, architecture and history, here I have captured the beautiful capital city of Rabat with its Bou Regreg river.”
All along his journey into space, Al Neyadi seizes the opportunity to capture panoramic views, as his account contains plenty of such mesmerizing scenery.
Another wonder Al Neyadi recently captured from the International Space Station (ISS) is the Eye of the Sahara in Mauritania, also called The Richat Structure.
“It serves as a reminder of our planet’s incredible beauty and the mysteries that still await our exploration,” he said, describing the view.
The Emirati astronaut also shared some posts while performing tasks as part of his mission aboard the spacecraft.
Al Neyadi’s celebration of Morocco’s beauty viewed from space comes as countries in the Arab World start to show their interest in space exploration.
Last February, Saudi Arabia announced plans to send its first female astronaut into space.
By the second quarter of this year, Rayyanah Barnawi is set to become the first female astronaut to join the ISS alongside Ali al-Qarni as crew member of the AX-2 space mission, the Saudi Space Commission announced.
Barnawi is a 33-year old research laboratory specialist with nine years of experience in cancer stem research, the Saudi Space Commission said.
Other Saudi astronauts will also receive training to join the AX-2 team as backup crew, namely Mariam Fardous and Ali al-Gamdi
Saudi Arabia will thus become one of the few countries that board two astronauts on the ISS, said the Saudi Press Agency.
Read also: Saudi Arabia to Send First Female Astronaut to Space in 2023
