Two Saudi astronauts will make their first trip to the ISS on a private flight that will cost $110 million and last for eight days, according to unnamed private sources. The trip came as part of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s (MBS) attempts to whitewash his poor human rights record.
The two Saudi astronauts Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali al-Qarni are scheduled to blast off in a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on a mission organised by private space company Axiom Space.
The trip came as part of space tourism, where travelers are able to book a ticket to space. The Saudi government, however, asserted that it was a private mission to conduct a number of experiments.
Rayyanah Barnawi, a Research Laboratory Specialist and breast cancer researcher, has more than 9 years of experience in stem cell and tissue re-engineering programs. Throughout her career, she has improved research protocols, troubleshooted several techniques, managed many breast cancer research projects, and published several publications in the same field.
She therefore has no connection to astronomy or space.
The reports coincided with shocking revelations about MBS’s massive spending on entertainment and failed projects solely for the purpose of enhancing his international reputation.
With consumer spending expected to reach SAR 36 billion by 2030, reliable sources revealed that MBS increased financial support for the Entertainment Authority.
Saudi Arabia officially launches a $233 million film sector financing program offering local & international film companies loans and investment, the sources added.
Saudi Arabia’s Cultural Development Fund is poised to launch a new $233m ($879m Saudi Riyal) film industry financing program in the first quarter of 2023, which will be open to both local and international entities.
According to the sources, the move was part of a wider strategy to open up the country and move its economy away from a reliance on oil. Other key supports include a 40% rebate for production.
Riyadh is now seeing more than $64 billion in entertainment investment, with a significant proportion of that going to the live music industry.
MBS is also spending $1 trillion to turn Saudi Arabia into a mass-market tourist destination. A nascent cruise sector, luxury Red Sea resorts and eco-lodges in the desert are all in the works.
MBS earlier declared the Red Sea Global with an archipelago of more than 50 untouched islands and the $8 billion Qiddiya entertainment megaproject.
He also bought shares valued at about half a billion dollars each in Facebook Inc. US:FB, Walt Disney Co.
He has also bought 8% stake in world’s biggest cruise operator Carnival for $370 million, while he is looking to expand its investments in Hollywood, with a reported bid to buy $12.5 billion Warner Music.
The shocking reports on MBS’s huge spending on entertainment projects have drowned sharp criticism among Saudis.
As high inflation continues to rise, social media activists have questioned MBS’ ambitious dreams and extravagance spending on imaginary projects that do not meet the Saudis’ demands for dignity.
