Saudi study launched in first crewed polar orbit flight with SpaceX

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A Saudi mission to study the effects of low gravity on the microbiome of the human eye joined the launch of SpaceX’s Fram2 flight on Monday night. (Reuters)
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Updated 03 April 2025
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Saudi study launched in first crewed polar orbit flight with SpaceX

  • Crew of four to go into polar orbit for first time in history
  • Mission carries samples of human eye microbiome as part of Saudi study

RIYADH: Biological samples for a Saudi study into the effects of low gravity on the microbiome of the human eye have been launched into orbit on a SpaceX rocket.

Monday night marked a historic moment in both Saudi and global history as health-tech startup SDM and nonprofit FALAK for Space Science and Research launched the Falak Mission to explore the ocular microbiome in space aboard SpaceX’s Fram2 from Florida’s Space Coast.

“This is the first time that astronauts have gone into the polar (orbit) space, not the equatorial … this is the first time globally that any specimens have gone to the polar space (orbit) with live astronauts,” Prof. Dr. Selwa Al-Hazza, CEO and founder of SDM, told Arab News.

SpaceX’s Fram2 Falcon 9 rocket took off on March 31 at 9:47 p.m. carrying with it ocular microbiome samples.

The mission is part of global efforts to study the impact of microgravity on the ocular microbiome in space — a critical yet under-researched aspect of eye healthcare.




Prof. Dr. Selwa Al-Hazza (L) is the CEO and founder of SDM. (Supplied/SDM)

It will track the genetic and protein changes that may occur as a result of exposure to microgravity.

The experiment also aims to evaluate the ability of microbes to form biofilms, which may increase the risk of infection in space, as well as analyzing changes in microbial resistance to antibiotics after exposure to microgravity.

The project “will contribute to achieving qualitative progress in education and research in space and associated technologies,” Dr Ayoub Al-Subehi, CEO of Falak, told the Saudi Press Agency ahead of the launch. 

Al-Hazza, who has 39 years of experience in fields spanning ophthalmology, image analysis, artificial intelligence, diabetic retinopathy, and ocular genetic diseases, underlined that this mission represents a significant step in the Kingdom’s commitment to scientific innovation and its expanding role in the global space sector.

She told Arab News: “After 39 years of being in ophthalmology, there has to be treatment for every disease. Why can’t we do something with these microbiomes?

“To spend 40 years and trying to treat patients and they do not respond, all of the pharmaceuticals and drugs, and patients going back and forth – to be able to find the mutation of what happens to the microbiomes ... What does this mean to me? To be able to treat every single (patient) ... to be able to take the microbiome and to find a solution for all of the sick patients through a simple mutation, staying away from drugs and staying away from the back and forth — that, to me, is a dream come true,” she said.

“I thought, what if we take his microbiome to the microgravity, why don’t we take it up to space, let’s see what effect the space has on the microbiome. I am sure there has to be some sort of mutation, I am sure there has to be some sort of change in its structure,” Al-Hazza added. 

Over the last 18 months, Al-Hazza and her team, along with SDM co-founder Naif Al-Obaidallah, have connected with specialists at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where Al-Hazza was a professor, as well as microbiome experts in Malta and Turkiye.

Al-Hazza worked with these specialists who have knowledge and expertise in the sector to explore medical solutions in space.




SDM co-founder Naif Obaidallah. (Supplied/SDM)

“With my 39 years of expertise in ophthalmology, we put our minds together we got the mission, we saw it last night.”

Al-Hazza shared the sense of pride she felt as the SDM team, in partnership with FALAK, carried the Saudi flag representing an important step in the Kingdom’s commitment to innovate and enhance its growing role in the global space sector.

She underlined that the mission had the support of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, at which she is an adviser, as well as the Saudi Space Agency and Communications, Space and Technology Commission.

The study is part of the Fram2 mission, which was launched from the Kennedy Space Center, has a crew of four and is the first human spaceflight to follow a polar orbit.

The Falcon 9 rocket is expected to land on April 3 with a specific time yet to be announced.


Saudi FM attends Oslo Forum in Norway

Updated 10 June 2025
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Saudi FM attends Oslo Forum in Norway

  • Forum hosts global leaders and conflict mediators
  • Prince Faisal bin Farhan will meet foreign officials

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in the Norwegian capital on Tuesday to take part in the Oslo Forum.

The annual event, organized by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue in Switzerland, hosts global leaders and conflict mediators.

Prince Faisal will meet foreign officials to strengthen relations with the Kingdom and discuss various regional and international issues, the Saudi Press Agency reported.


What pilgrims are sharing online after their Hajj journey

Updated 10 June 2025
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What pilgrims are sharing online after their Hajj journey

  • Worshippers take to social media to share profound experiences with loved ones
  • Posting online becomes a way to process the weight of Hajj for many

RIYADH: For many pilgrims, the spiritual journey of Hajj does not end when they leave the holy sites. It continues — quietly, intentionally — in the days and weeks that follow.

Across Saudi Arabia, young pilgrims are using social media to process the weight of Hajj and share the experience with loved ones.

Noor Ahmad, 21, did not plan to post during her pilgrimage. But after she returned, the urge to share came naturally.

After returning from Hajj, I decided to share a few captured moments. But how can a photo truly capture the depth and majesty of the experience?

Noor Ahmad

“After returning from Hajj, I decided to share a few captured moments,” she said. “But how can a photo truly capture the depth and majesty of the experience?”

She described how people responded in varied ways. “Those who had gone before felt nostalgic and started sharing their own stories. Others — those who hadn’t been yet — expressed their longing. It became this moment of connection.”

For Noor, the decision to post was not about aesthetics. “It’s a monumental event. Maybe I could inspire someone who’s hesitant to go. Maybe they’ll see what I saw — and want to experience it for themselves.

“It was my way of saying thank you”

Shatha Al-Jadaan, 25, took a different approach to sharing, after taking a digital detox.

I enjoy sharing meaningful moments, and after seeing the tremendous effort put into Hajj on every level, I felt my post was a small, sincere gesture of appreciation.

Shatha Al-Jadaan

“During Hajj, I decided to partially fast from social media. I used only the essentials,” she said. “After I returned, I posted a thread to my close friends explaining where I’d been and shared some of the most meaningful moments.”

The response was full of prayers and warmth. “People were kind, supportive, and curious. But what mattered most to me was that I used the thread to say thank you — to the organizers, to the volunteers, and to Allah.”

She spoke about how she found value in using digital platforms to document something greater than herself.

“I enjoy sharing meaningful moments, and after seeing the tremendous effort put into Hajj on every level, I felt my post was a small, sincere gesture of appreciation.”

Salem Al-Khudair, 28, recorded a voice note to his family group chat while performing the rites.

“I just couldn’t find the words to write. So I recorded myself speaking right after standing in Arafat. I sent it to my family WhatsApp group. My mom was emotional. My dad said, ‘May God accept from you.’ That was enough.”

In an age of curated content, Hajj posts tend to stand out for their sincerity. Pilgrims often strip away the filters, metaphors and trend-driven formats, and just speak from the heart.

Noura Al-Dosari, 23, uploaded a private Instagram story highlight with no captions. “Just visuals. No filters. No hashtags,” she said. “It wasn’t for followers. It was for me. For reflection. A digital bookmark of who I became.”

Some write long captions, others simply post a photo of their ihram folded neatly back into a drawer.

But all of them carry a silent message: I went. I came back different.

Many pilgrims use their posts to recall moments of physical hardship that brought emotional breakthroughs — the heat, the long walks, the brief but powerful connections with strangers.

Others use it to highlight the seamless organization of the pilgrimage as a reminder of how far the experience has evolved.

Amani Al-Saad, 26, used X to share a short story about a volunteer who helped her carry her bag in Muzdalifah. “She didn’t speak much, but she smiled at me and said, ‘This is what we’re here for.’ That stuck with me. I wrote about it as a reminder to myself — that sometimes the smallest moments hold the most meaning.”

While digital connections are increasingly common, most pilgrims emphasize that the real processing happens offline — in quiet conversations with family, in their prayer rooms, or on long drives home.

“I didn’t post to perform,” said Al-Jadaan. “I posted to remember.”

 


National Water Co. ready for post-Hajj season

Updated 10 June 2025
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National Water Co. ready for post-Hajj season

  • The company added the plan included securing water storage and coordinating with water production and distribution systems

MADINAH: The National Water Co. has confirmed it is operationally ready for the post-Hajj season.

The company said it would distribute more than 630,000 cubic meters of potable water daily to pilgrims at the Prophet’s Mosque and throughout Madinah and said its readiness built on ongoing efforts to serve pilgrims and visitors.

The plan involves more than 1,200 employees, including technical, administrative and engineering staff, working to provide water and environmental services.

The company added the plan included securing water storage and coordinating with water production and distribution systems, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Water will be supplied daily during the post-Hajj season through continuous pumping to the central area and religious sites. Chemical and biological tests will be conducted to ensure compliance with water quality standards.

The company said its smart operation system continues to manage and monitor Madinah’s water network, overseeing water pressure and quality in pipelines and reservoirs.

 


Saudi film body joins global audiovisual group

Updated 10 June 2025
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Saudi film body joins global audiovisual group

  • Through this affiliation, the commission plans to develop archiving projects and engage in knowledge exchange with international institutions

RIYADH: The Film Commission announced its membership in the International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives, a step aimed at supporting its work in audiovisual archiving.

The association includes members from 70 countries and represents institutions that preserve materials such as visual content, musical works, historical and literary recordings, and oral histories.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, this membership supports the commission’s efforts to preserve Saudi Arabia’s audiovisual heritage.

Through this affiliation, the commission plans to develop archiving projects and engage in knowledge exchange with international institutions.

The move also reflects the commission’s aim to adopt recognized practices and modern technologies in film archiving, the SPA reported.

Cooperation with association members will provide access to innovations in audiovisual preservation and contribute to efforts to safeguard the Kingdom’s cultural heritage.

Founded in 1969 in Amsterdam, the association promotes collaboration among institutions focused on audiovisual preservation.

It hosts an annual conference for sharing expertise in preservation, restoration, digitization, intellectual property, and public access to archival materials.

 


French architect showcases AlUla’s heritage in New York exhibition

Updated 10 June 2025
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French architect showcases AlUla’s heritage in New York exhibition

  • The exhibition was opened by Abdullah Al-Hamdan, the Kingdom’s consul general in New York, who spoke about the role of art in encouraging cultural exchange and international understanding

RIYADH: The Didier Aaron Gallery in New York, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Saudi Arabia, is hosting an art exhibition by French architect Jean-Pierre Heim.

The exhibition showcases AlUla’s culture and heritage through a collection of sketches depicting Saudi Arabia’s archaeological landmarks.

It runs until June 20, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

A special event at the exhibition featured Heim speaking about his visits to AlUla and the surrounding region.

It was opened by Abdullah Al-Hamdan, the Kingdom’s consul general in New York, who spoke about the role of art in encouraging cultural exchange and international understanding.

He also noted the value of such exhibitions in sharing aspects of Saudi heritage with a wider audience.

Heim described his design approach as being informed by local culture and geography, emphasizing the integration of architecture with environment, history, and traditions.

The exhibition includes selected architectural drawings by Heim, inspired by his travels to more than 80 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, Jordan, Greece, and China.